THE DUAL MAORI VOTE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 12, 23 October 1878, Page 3

THE DUAL MAORI VOTE.

The followin'; in a report of the debate in the Lojndative Council, which reunited in the rejection of the proposal to confer a double vote upon Maoris : _ On the 14th clause—qualification of electors—the Hon. Mr Waterhouse moved the insertion of the words not being a Maori.” He was iu favor of special representation of the Maoris according to th *ir numtiers. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore said that the Attorney-General was of opinion that the Maoris had no vote under the clause, but he wus lmund to say that opinions differed. He thought the Council might pursue the course indicated by Mr Waterhouse, hut by striking out the 18th clause, they would place a restriction on the Maori representation. As the point of law was exceedingly doubtful, he should deprecate any spasmodic alteration of this Bill as it affected the Maoris. As for Wi Tako’s opinion, he stood apart from the whole of his race in this matter. Til“ vlon. Mr Reynolds said the Middle Twould never consent to the Maorit ha\ a double vote. A strong feeling was getting up in that island against thir continually interfering with the Maoris L* t them be placed on the wuue fooling iu electoral matters as the Europeans. The Hon. Ur, Pollen had hoped that Colonel Whitmore would have conclu led hv saving that the whole Bill should bi withdrawn for this session. The disposi ti«»n was to equalise the rights of th< raees : but the Maoris were not sufficienth educated and civilised to make it ad visa hh t*j lilac-, them on the eapie footing us tin

Europeans jn electoral matters. The difficulties surrounding the subject were very great. The wisest and safest thing to do would be to postpone the subject until the whole question of representation could be considered together.

Sir F. D. Bell thought the effect of the Bill would be to place the North Island in the hands of the natives. According to the proposal of the Colonial Secretary, would still be let in on the residential qualification. He altogether denied the statements of Mr Reynolds as to the feeling in the Middle Island about the Maoris. To pass the clause as it stood would be a cruel wrong on the European inhabitants of the North Island.

The Hon. Mr Hart pointed out that there was an impression that a Maori, if in possession of a tenement of a certain annual value, was entitled to a vote under the Constitution Act. If that were so, no action of that Legislature could take such right away. Inasmuch as land held under Maori custom was not held under a fixed tenure, he was clearly of opinion that natives holding under such tenure hail not a vote under the Constitution Act. They should pause before passing this Act, which required a full twelve months' consideration.

The Hon. Colonel Whitmore reminded | the Council that it was intended that the j whole question of Maori representation i should be consid red hereafter; but the j Government desired to see this Bill passed ■ before there was a general election. ! The Hon. Mr Holmes thought Colonel Whitmore was trying to hide the real issue under a cloud of words. The real is*»ue was whether people who paid no taxes should have a voice in legislating for those who did. He did not speak of purchasing dutiable goods. Sir I). Bell spoke of tbe division in another place on the motion to recommit the Land Tax Bill as illustrating the injustice of the Maoris having votes tin questions that did not affect thems-dves. ; In that division the Maori membeis of the i other Chamber alone saved the Govern- : ment from the necessity of resigning, i The lion. Mr Wilson thought the ; amendment would be an act of great injustice to tin- Maori race. It was mean to turn round now and take away what we bad given to the Maoris, simply be- • cause we were strong enough.

The Hon. Mr Mautell would oppose the ■ amendment. He had been always opposed to Maori special representation, and ! he would have no distinction at all bej tween the races. ! The Hon. Mr Waterhouse expressed his intention of moving to alter the 18th j i clause, so as to make it the same as it was I ; when the measure was originally intro- j | duced. The amendment of Mr Water- ! house was then agreed to on a division bv , 25 to 11. Clause 18—Every male Maori of the ! j full age of 21 years shall (-übjfct to the provisions of this Act) b • qualified c«■ ! vote in the election of m -mb -rs for tin* ! floiiKc of Representatives, but shall only i In? qualified if, —(a.) He is seized at law or in equity of lands or tenements for bis ! own life or for the life of any other perj son, or for any larger estate of the clear | value of fw nty-live pounds at the least, 1 and lias been seized for six months prel vioits to the date of his claim to vote : or ; if (»•) His name is enrolled on a rate- ! pay its’ roll in force within the district for i which he claims to vote on account of ; lands or tenements belonging to him, and i shall have actually paid his rates for the j year in which his c laim to vote is made. ] Nothing herein shall affect, any rigid or i privilege conferred upon or grant -d to I Maoris under the Maori Representative I Act. 1*77. or any Act amending the same, j The Hoii. Mr Waterhouse moved the ; insertion of the following words after the ; word ‘“if” in the sixth line of the clause ! as above ; —**l;is name is enrolled upon ; the ratepayers’ roll in force in the district ' for which he claims the vote.” This ! would have the effect of restoring tin* j clause to the original shape in which it j readied the other Chamber. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore hoped that the Maoris would not, in the land which they had owned, be treated like the Chinese. He d- precatod the venomous and hostile spirit shown towards the Maoris by Sir Dillon Bell. Sir Dillon Bell was shocked at such language from the leader of the House. His (Sir Dillon Bell's) car er was well known to the memb r-; of the Council. Colonel Whitmore could not hope for the slightest respect from that Chamber if be j made use of such utterly uncalled for j language. The Hon. Mr Hall was extremely - astonished at the outrageous speech of the 1 j Colonial Secretary. J The Hon. Mr Waterhouse would treat j the violent personal attack of Colonel Whitmore on himself with contempt. | Why, the Colonial Secretary had himself 1 ' used the very strongest language, calcu- ; latcd to embitter the relations of the races. ' He bad Raid that they (the Council) were j prepared to “ tomahawk the natives.” j Colonel Whitmore explained that he j had used the words in a metaphorical -ens- . Mr Waterhouse’s amendment was car- | ried on the voices. 1 The effect of the above amendments is , | that only three Maoris whose names arc? r i upon the ratepayers roll will be entitled to vote for European members.