The Auckland Chronicle. Thursday, February, 29, 1844. COLONIAL POLITICS!

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 30, 29 February 1844, Page 2

The Auckland Chronicle. Thursday, February, 29, 1844. COLONIAL POLITICS!

In our paper of last week, we endeavoured to prove, and we trust conclusively, the total failure of the system adopted by the late Government to bring about the civilization of the Aboriginal race by means of Protectors. Me have asserted that no aggressions Lave been openly perpretrated by the white population against the natives, and we know that none can be proved since the establishment of British authority in the Island. The conclusion we draw from this fact is perfectly apparent to every one who reasons on the subject. If no person oppress them, surely they do not want protection. But it may be argued that they are of use as Interpreters, and in case of any misunderstanding, have great influence with the natives, in restraining them from acts of violence. That they may be useful as Interpreters we do not deny, but surely Interpreters equally proficient in the language could be procured at les-* tliau one-fourth the expense ; and expe.rience has taught us that they have no influence at a*l in restraining them from illegal acts when large numbers *“of them assemble together for that purpose, and we are quite satislied that one soldier is worth a dozen of them in a row. : v 4 If it then he admitted that as Protectors they have nothing to do, for the people are just they do not oppress them, .find tile laws are just and le- . niently administered ; why continue that odious name which assumes the eoutrary as fact ,inasmuch as it imp ies ..that they are an innocent but oppressed people ? We know that from the best of motives Protectors were deemed essential to the well being of the .. natives by the Home Government, or at a time when economy is so strictly enjoined, such an expensive system would mot have been to e *ated for a r moment. We honour the motives that prompted their appointment, v, bile we bdeplore the utter inefficiency apd want of adaptation of the means tom/'compis i the desired object. We deem it a . dutv incumbent on ourselves as -Journalits, to expose every public species of corruption, or mismanagement

that comes under our notice, and however painful it may be in a small community like ours, where the interests of people are concerned, with whom we are personally acquainted, yet we will .faithfully discharge the obligation.* We have received several remonstrances on the impolicy of publishing a catalogue of native aggressions, on acccmnt of the injury it is calculated to do the Colony, by dete ring peop'e of capital from coming here ; we have ourselves a stake in the prosperity of the Colony,- and are as anxious to promote it ao any one can be, but we do not see that it will have the effect they anticipate, on the contrary we believe that if a plain straightforward account of affairs here, had been forwarded to the Home Government, we should have had at least five hundred soldiers in the Colony before this. We do not see what is to be gained by suppressing truth, and sending home garbled statements ; we are advocates for the good old plan practised in our English Courts of Justice, that of ‘ speaking the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth/ Besides what is the good of getting people of capital to emigrate here, for unless a material change is brought about, and the perfect security of the white population established, they would only get out of the country as fast as they could, and give it a bad name wherever they went. We have every reason to believe the Home Government has been kept entirely in the dark on this subject, or they never would have allowed their deputed authorities here to be p'aced in such humiliating circumstance*, and treated with so much contempt, we are mistaken indeed in the character of the Conservatives of England if they would, known as they are, to be men of high notions of honour, and having great respect and veneration for the laws.

We believe a’most all the atrocities that the natives have committed, are attributable to the treachery and in justice of the Late Government, in entrapping them into the signing the treaty of Waitangi, by assuring them that they would have all the rights and priviledges of Britith subjects, and then immediately debarring them of the priri edge tl ey valued more than any other they possessed, that of selling their land to the settlers; this and the cruel treatment of the Land Claimants. impressed the natives, who are a penetrative and intelligent race, with a sense of their injustice and oppression ; and caused fear and distrust to succeed to the good faith and respect which they formerly possessed. A very sensible letter from two Native Chiefs at Hohianga, named Moses Mahe, and William Barton, which appeared in the “ Southern Cress’' of the 17th of tins month, will illustrate the truth of this assertion. We are satisfied the nati'es are equa J , if not superior, to any other race of savages in the known world, their sense of justice, and perceptions «-f right and wrong, are acute, and manifest a great degree i of intelligence ; but they require the Government to set them a:i example i of good faith and honesty, and if they ! would command their respect, they should act with firmness and decision. ; At the same time we must make every allowance for the temporising policy • the Late Go»ernuiant were almost compe’led to adopt towards the natives, on account of the small forte at their disposal, but we condemn them for not sending home from time to time, a statistical account of all the u.ts of Maori and we doubt not their reasonable appeal wou’d have been immediately re-ponded to by a suflicient number of troops being sent out. We fu : ly concur with the opinions expressed bv Captain Fit/.roy to the English Government, after his visjt to the Bay of Islands in H. M. Ship, “ Beagle/’ and we f-el satisfied the more acquaintance lie has with the native character, the more wi ; l lie he

confirmee in his former opinion, that to ensure the obedience and <jood behaviour of the natives, ,4 a targe physical force is necessary, not that he believed the active operation of that force would he required, but in order to show them that there h an overwhelming power, and that resistance on their part would be in vain.''

We have dwelt long on lhis subject because we deem it of the first importance; tell us not of the salubrity of the climate, the fertility of the soil, or the convenience of her harbours, for " What avail her inexhausted stores.

Her blooming mountains, or her sonny shores.” But answer this one little question, is there perfect security for life and property ? Remember this is the first question the man of capital requires to be satisfied about before he entertains the idea of settling down in any country. Demand of the Home Gouernment a sufficient force to carry out the authority of the-Queen, in a manner that will redound to her Majesty,s honour, and secure the respect and obedience of both Europeans and Natives. Prate not about the “ Wakefield System of Colonization,” or the Copenican system of Astronomy, but let the scales ot Justice be held even between the two races. Return the Natives the priviledge of selling their own lands, and return to the claimants the whole of their land proved to have been fairly purchased. Make restitution for former wrongs as far as possible, and begin a thorough reformation for the future. Lea»e off the old temporising policy, strike them not with the sword one day, and then stick a Protector planter on the next; but once more consider whose sceptre ye wield, and act as becomes the representatives of the greatest power in the world. Soon then will the capitalists flock to our Country. Soon will the surface of the soil be covered with the fruits of industry, and the smiles of joy and contentment beam on every countenance. *