The One Policeman Policy.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2097, 27 July 1887, Page 2

The One Policeman Policy.

Judging by the recent warlike events at Okaihau, Mr John Ballance’s One Policeman Policy is no more an unmitigated success than his Maiden Lady Homestead Settlement Scheme. We were told that under Mr Ballance’s benign regime the Maoris were contented, happy and peaceful, but when we find policemen shooting down the unfortunate Hauhans, and natives carving the constabulary with adzes, we may be permitted to doubt the peace, happiness and contentment. At any rate, it seems that Mr Ballanoe takes a curious way of showing his love for his yellow brethren. Mr Salience's mthe Wanganui Herald, has puba carefully polished official bulletin of the whole affair, but even now we fail to discover what these Maoris did to deserve shooting. In the first place it is rumored that they had burned two old women. There is not the faintest evidence in support of tins bosh, or the culprits would not have been sentenced to merely a few weeks' imprisonment. Next, they are accused of illtreating an European, one Hearn. Who, may wo ask, is Mr Hearn, and what business had he fossicking around the natives’ whares f Was Hearn a Government spy, a portion of the one peeler policy P But the head and front of the Hauhans’ offending is their partiality for tho cremation of their dead. Mr Ballanoe, with that utter intolerance so often found associated with “ advanced thinkers" of his type, dubs these natives “ fanatics," because they dispose of their dead in a fashion the most progressive of the age, aud so, to mark his abhorrence of fanaticism, he attacks them with clubs and five shooters. Why did not Mr Ballanoe visit these natives himself and see what was wron »; that is his business, and we pay him for it ? Not he, he is too busy on the election rampage, and far too oareful of his valuable life to go fooling round with Hauhaus—besides, it is far less danger, ous, and far more convenient to bend a few police to shoot tho “ yellow beggars.” This is all very well, but the country does not pay largo sums for the utterly useless Native Department for the simple purpose of potting Maoris —fanatical or otherwise. These natives are our fellow countrymen, aud Mr Ballancehas no more right to interfere with their religion, though he is editing a religious paper, than he has to interfere with the administration of any of the churches in Wanganui, Since Mr Ballanoe took charge of tho Native Department tho expenses thereof have steadily increased. In 188485 tho amount voted was £18,611, in 1885-86, £20,222; in 1886-87, £22,830 was voted, but £26,836 was expended aud tho Givil List vote of £7UOO for the department was exceeded by £1798. We reiterate, tho country does not pay these sums for the purpose of shooting our fellow countrymen while Mr Ballanoe roams the laud on the election stump.