THE NATIVE QUESTION.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 5185, 4 June 1885, Page 2

THE NATIVE QUESTION.

• ■■..■■>,■,.., ...,■■ •■-- th^, least interesting portion of , Atkinson's speech'was'that.which related : to the natiye ; p.olicy of,the present Ministry. It is a subject on\which,he.iB f espepl|y entitled 'to be', listened.'tonw attention)forhe' "what he is talkingabouty Hej.haV.tne history, of the past at his fingers''* ends; he understands, the Maoris thoroughly j and y .jhe>jlivfij in a . part 'jC&'th'ft 'country the\besfc .' means of procuring information concerning ' native doings and native.temper and inten-;. tions. In short he possesses the materials' for forming a trustworthy judgmtnt"as to ~- what should;,be the. native policy the present and Mure,'" His commendation of Mrßryce's administration must, be looked ■ ra'as'sdmething'of • moWimpbrtyce than a ;•:. passing and lightly uttered complimantary.-'.-; notice of a former colleague. The 'speech : contained a rather elaborate criticism of;: Mr Balance's actions as Native Minister,. -' and of hja_ intentions as. far is Ithey, have been made known. The conclusions ,;:; to the., new' regime. Mapr 'Atkinson admitted at ; theputsotthat.an qntbreakji , Itthough1 t though pos-; : sible," was improbable,;pud)be attributed that condition.,of affairs mainly to Mr Bryco," who made the natives understand that when ho said a thing ho, meant it. Thoy l did hot'likohim/someof thein) but they ' A believed him,". Agreat deal has been re->; cently written concerning the removal of:-'; the Armed Constabulary, and the effect the; : ' change has had on v the]natives;/ Let usseo. ; ; what sort M testimony" Major Atkinson . gave on that part of tho native question.;: ■ He said the natives still believe absolutely ";: in,To Whiti ;■ that thoy.are) 'their; usual, avocationsj but are parading, ; \ tho country; that they ai'o selling pro-,;;, duco at ruinous prices to procure money :.;, : ' and that To Whiti still adhores to'liis prediction that the ,land islO'Cpmeiback to / tho natives, and' tliat they, have fiith in • the story.— New ;,