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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 294, 20 October 1879, Page 2

On Friday night the Hon, Mr Bryce made his Native Statemont in what was characterized by Mr Sheehan as a fair, square, and above-board manner, His speech was able and temperate, and went to show not the faults of the late Government so much as the unsatisfactory system under which the Native Department was conducted. His policy for the future was sketched in the following terms:—He would set to work to destroy the principal part of the departmeit as a department. Be would advocate the native schools being handed over to the Education Department. He would deal with other votes in precisely the same way. He would place the pensioners under the Colonial Secretary's Department, and the assessors under the Department of Justice. This would make a very great reduction in the expenses of native affairs. With respect to the alienation of native lands, he held pretty positive opinions on that question. Any system was open to objection, but he would take that which was open to the leaat. The greatest facilities ihould be given to the Maoris for

surveying the boundaries of their land, and the title being decided they should be allowed to place it under some body popular with the Maori, so that it might be sold by public competition. He would stop all sales. It should be the duty of that Board—a Waste Lands Board it might be—to sell the lands—a percentage of the proceeds should be taken for the opening up of the lands-by road, and lie would then hand over the balance of the purchase money to the sellers. He believed the Maoris would be in favor oft* such schemes, and that the Board would get the very largest sum that was possible for the lands. In conclusion, he said if the House cared to carry on native matters under the present mode, they must do so, but if not, he felt convinced there might be a very great improvement made in them. Maoridom has been a pestilential sore to the colony for many years. Perhaps a sensible man like Dr Bryce, if he be allowed the opportunity, will be able to cure it or bring it within curable limits, When the natives cease to be Government pets and Government pensioners there may be a fair chance of their becoming useful members of society.

It is reported on pretty good authority that the Opposition are proposing a coalition to the Ministry. While we believe that a coalition may be of advantage to the country at the present crisis, we' cannot help thinking that the proposal, if it has been made, is an indication that the Opposition finds itself playing a losing game,