Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1874.] TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1895. THE FUTURE NATIVE POLICY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5031, 21 May 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1874.] TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1895. THE FUTURE NATIVE POLICY.

Ix a speech delivered at Paten, on Saturday last, the Premier, smarting a little perhaps from his interview with the prophet at Parihakn, declared that the Natives were "degenerate." Had the Premier possessed a sense of humour as well as of importance, he would never have gone (o Parihakn, A great Minister, Mr llryce, onco wont to that historic spot, and made a heroic record. Mr Scddon, iutlio plenitude of rank and power, could not vie with Mr Brycc, and it wns inevitable that his visit to Te Whiti should be uuheroic. Still we agree with Mr Seddoii, that the natives of the present, day are degenerate. They are not noble, either as savages or as settlers, and may sometimes be classed a.s loafers. If Mr Seddon, by his proposed Native Policy, can change them into industrial settlers, wo shall bo glad. The lime lias, we believe, come, when some attempt should be mado to convert a comparatively idle and useless race (we arc speaking more particularly of the Maoris in the northern part of this Island) into industrious and useful residents. Mr Seddon's idea seems to bo to put the natives on the same footing' as Europeans, and if he can cany it out, he will be a good friend to them, however much they may dislike the interference. Mr Scddon finds the Communism of the Maoris fatal to progress, and possibly lie may yet discover that the Communism of his co-operative labourers is equally qpen to objection, Howeycr, jve mnstgiye him time to find out the latter, and congratulate him upon his intention to remedy the former. Ho also holds that the Natives mnsf. be fold where.' •ftjey. were wrong; and if they pew that when they became hard up through their own tbriftlessncss and through wanton dissipation of their means no sympathy or help need be exported, a better state of things 'would be brought about. We have plain speaking at-lpst with the

Maoris,, and we think that it may ibe advantageous, The' Natives, in f the past,'hare been petted and 1 spoilt to a very groat extent,! partly from a sense of chivalry, and ' partly in order to preserve friendly relations between thorn and the ' European population. The question ' as to what is best for the future of : the race, is now well worthy of consideration, and we feel that, to put ■ them on the same footing as Euro- ' peans, to treat them as men rather '. than as children, may he the best hope for a decayed but once noble