MAORI REPRESENTATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13059, 29 April 1910, Page 4

MAORI REPRESENTATION.

It occasionally happens that some good coincth out, of Nazareth, and there is one little oasis in the midst of tho desert of words which Mr Massey inflicted upon the good people of Hokitika last night. Beyond that, as we have already indicated, the speech was just the same weary old tale, with nothing new in it, and it merely emphasised the prevailing view that, if tho country be dissatisfied with the Ward Ministry it is not to the Massey party that it will return for relief. The one exception we refer to is Mr Massey’s contention, which however, is by no means original, that special Maori representation should be abolished, and in this matter we are inclined to agree with him. It would be dif-ficult-indeed to discover of what great use the Maori members are, either to the country, or their own race. They have a certain sentimental value in the natives’ eyes, the latter possibly feeling somewhat flattered by the possession of four seats to themselves. Hut sentiment cats very little ice in politics. If it did. in this matter at least, we might just as well have Irish members to represent the Irish element in our population, German members to represent the German colonists. English, Scotch, Jewish, and miscellaneous members also. In this country we are neither English, Scotch, Irish, Maori, or anything else, at least we shouldn't be. Wc arc Now Zealanders. and if every New Zealander is privileged to exercise a vote there doesn't seem much to complain of. The absorption of tho Maori electorates into t-hc white electorates would inflict no hardship on anyone.