Te wananga. Published every saturday. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1878.

Wananga, Volume 5, Issue 47, 23 November 1878, Page 583

Te wananga. Published every saturday. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1878.

Last week we pointed out that the right of the Maori to vote at general elections for European candidates was unaltered. Before the month comes round for the registration of electors we shall give the law as it is, so that every Maori who is at present qualified to vote, but who is not on the roll, can register, and thereafter record his v.ite for the cand date he considers the likeliest to deal lairly with his race. We wish now to refer t> the original creation of the dual vote which is still the law. The dual vote was conferred at the instance of Sir Donald M' Lean, in 1867, and has for eleven years been the lawful right of the Maori people. At that time the Maoris" possessed all the electoral rights of Europeans, but from many causes which Sir Donald M'Lean explained to the Assembly, and which are

shadowed out in the Maori Representaiipn Act of thai; year the Maoris were insufficiently represented: To cure this defect, and to give the Maori at*in-, tercst in government by Parliament, a speeial re* presentation was created, adding to, not taking away "from the electoral privileges he then .possessed. This Act was intituled 44 An Act to provide for the better representation of the Native aboriginal inhabitants ot : the colony. *)£ New. : The preamble is more specific. It runs thus■•Whereas owing to the peculiar'natirre of the tenure of Maori land and other causes, the Native aboriginal inhabitants of this colony of New-Zea-land have heretofore, with few exceptions, been unable to become registered as electors, or to vote at the elections of members of the House of Jieprcsen-. tatives.or of the Provincial Council of the said: colony, and it is expedient for the better protection of the interests of Her Majesty's subjects, the Native race, that temporary provision should be mad:,* for the special representation of such, Her Majesty's .Native subjects in the House of Representatives and the Provincial Council of the,.said, colony. Bk tincut l .Fonts exacted, See., See.". In this act of grace towards the Maori his people are recognised as British subjects, and the title to vote by the qualification arising from a common tenure in land is recognised. It is important to notice also that it is provided as a temporary mea-. sure supplementary to an existing right common to all British subjects under the general electoral laws, not in any sense as a substitutionary privilege. The. existing right was carefully retained, while Parliament was congratulated in the Governor's speech the following year upon the ■ success which had resulted from the concession to the weaker race* a * success which justified, said His Excellency, Maori representation in the''Legislative" Council. . ' So far Sir Donald McLean carefully guarded Maori rights. It was to his goodness towards the Maori in this respect that the dual vote was created. So lcnjf as he lived, those who profited by their connection with him, benefitting by his position in the Government and his reputation amongi the ; Maoris, did not attempt to criticise much less to. repudiate h"s action. .Now he is dead. A live dog is better than a dead lion. The same sun certainly shines over all as it did in Sir Donald's day, whether they be black or white, landed or unlanded, but the circumstances'have altered No longer can profit be derived or tenure of political position be ensured by friendly connection with the late Minister. It is still convenient to some to speak of him as "our dear lamented friend," and even to drop microscopical tears whilo uttering the sentiment. The profits have nevertheless been realised. Political faith can now be changed, and public honor be violated for political safety is at stake. Those who were strong without the la.w once are strong with the law now, and hold seats by their yotea. t'o the same voice winch sounds the sympathetic

lianfMt,' softened by the'glistening tear, is now advocating the undoing oT latef llii was worthy in the life of him whose MnM'it ftlselyrings. Such' hypocrisy should looting place earth. Mr. Ormond, who more than anyone has benefitfed %'p4tsryear% by Sir Donald M'Lean's influetite m .Native affahrs, who owes his public position GttWrely toSirGeorgeiJreyandSir Donald McLean, is the man vho now traduces the <me and attempts with all his might to sully the public honor other. Sir Ddnald McLean gave as an act of'grace to the" M aori a special representation of a teifcpdratykind'additional to his common right as a ctfizenina British colony. Mr; Ormond and his fpIIoWCTS, Gaptain Russell and Mr. Sutton—a company that the quirks and chances of titrle bring together—would render false the unasEedfor gift, and under its cloak, without the con. sfctatLof t the Maori, would take away the far wider fSanchise which the gift was in supplement of. The Maoris have bread, we add glitterimg stone in the end that we may take away that bread. In this act of attempted fraud the honor of Hawke's Bay is through itß representatives sadly sullied. Sacrilege is committed to the memory of Sir Donald M'Lean, not by his foes but by his friends, two of whom, Mr. Ormond and Mr. Suttonr would still, if it were possible, around his mana gather honey and well, we leave the blank, our readers, each according to his light, may add the word. Fortunately it is not poss : ble. The only fruit to be gathered on that tree by such hands is ignominious shame and crushing defeat. Let the Hawke's Bay members rest assured of this, that the faith of a living Queen will be kept sacral. It may be possible to violate the whole spirit of the past life of a dead Native Minister, but the cotontitutional rights of British subjects dependent upoo the honor of the Crown rest immoveable. It is dot to-be tolerated that in 1878. to please those who have gained in the past by the Maoris' loss, the rights of British subjects are to be taken from them because their skins are not white. The d*y when electoral qualification is to be regulated by degree of color is a day of the past.