DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 432, 15 February 1909, Page 3

DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.

PRIME MINISTER AND MAORIS. MR. MASSEY'S VIGOROUS PROTEST. • In the courso of his speech at tho Roform party banquet at Hawera on Friday night, Mr. Massoy, Loader of ,tho party, referred : in'brief- but strong terms to the interference ;of the Prime Minister in tho,'election of a : member to represent tho Southern Maori district. In an interview with a representative of Tnp. Dominion, Mr. Massey explained the grounds on-which ho took exception to Sir Joseph Ward's action, and he also condemned the departure of tho-Prime Minister from tho constitutional rule in'givinß the member of tho Executive Council representing tho Native race tho : charge of two important Government Departments.-: Ho regards, this as unconstitutional, ■ and a most dangerous precedont, and hoick, that the Government should withdraw from tho false position they havo taken upp as speedily as possible;.;■

Interference with an Ejection. ■ ; ■;: " "So far as the number of- electors is concornod," said ".Mr.: Massey to a '.Dominion representative, "the Southern Maori electorate is by a very long way tho smallest in the country—Mr. Parata, having; on several occasions,, been elected with a total of about 350 .votes.-. At the recent election he was strenuously opposed .by another member of the Native'race, and Sir Joseph Ward took it-upon himself to interfere in the. Native election by sending,very long telegrams asking the Maoris to support Mr; Parata. .These telegrams were sent to several of tho leading Natives in the different centres. .Sir Joseph Ward says ho paid for the telegrams. I accept. that'statement; but. it. does,- not affect in the very slightest the main point with regard to the Premier's interference^. I want it to.be thoroughly understood that I. have not thevery .slightest objection. to Mr; :Parata personally, '■'', I .respect him just.Vas much as--I. do ".the dverhge..member" ..of the, House. .But.what I say is this: That the system of special Maori representation which isin existence should .not.be used for party purposes.) I have never'done, so, and I am very .strongly of opinion that the action of, the.Prime Minister.'was undignified and. imI T)rOlsCr ■ ■••■"■-: ■ ■.■:"'.' -■ : '■..-•. ' .''Personally, I believe tho time has come," continued : Mr. Massey,, "to .'do away, with this special representation; and: if the, votes of the Maori: representatives, are to be, used for party purposes, by" the Government of the day, then I say that themames of the Maoris should be placed on the ordinary .electoral rolls \of the colony; 'ajid • I believe if -that were done, tno interests of the Native;-race, would ho better looked after even than they 'are under circumstances."...-"'."• A proof of the consistency of tho Opposition is afforded in a statement made by Mr. |R. R.: Martin, organising secretary of the ! Reform party. .In reply to a question as.to' :' whether the death : of- Mr.' Heko would necessitate his going to the North of. Auckland .to take an active.part.in the forthcoming olec!tion' for'.the Northern Maori, electorate, Mr: Martin said that his instructions- from Mr. I Massey, leader of the party; wero very clear : and 'explicit;■ and were, to"the.effect; that he . was not to'.interfere either 'directly or indirectly,with' the representation .of. any Maori ■constituency. :.'. '.. .■...''■' . ■■..'\. : .. -'; Mr. Ngata's 'dffioes—An Unconstitutional . :,; .'-T.--'v :';;; '.'■■}'].! Position; ,:, .:.\^ ; :..- ; s'V.; ;- ; • |. : Dealing with.another, aspect of the' Native, !.question,,,Mr.' Massey said:—"When., the law .was placed upon the .statute-book providing that the . Native' race might.bo, represented in'the Executive Council by. a mem-; ber of their own; people, 'it' was nov'er in-; tended that such member -should' control or interfere with , the working of any other Department, than that directly;' affecting :'tho ■Maoris. : Nowj in the recent reconstruction of- the'. Cabinet, Mr. Ngata has been, placed in charge of/ tho, Public;, Trust Office,;: and ■ he/has alsoibeen given. control of.■the; . Life and Accident Insurance Departments) ~..'. •■' ','1 feel very strongly,"- said 'the ; Leader; of. the Opposition, "that tho Minister in charge' of these important financial ■Departments ishould be responsible to;. a\ European con- ■ stituency, iwhenj '.jf his : administration is not Satisfactory',-':'- ho,can' be 'dealt;, as' European' electors -are in -theyliabit'- of "dealing even-: with "Ministers' ".whose administration does "not' meet with,'the,'approval of the people. And I am inclined to think that Mr. Ngata: himself wilUsee the. impropriety,of the'position'.'in'.which, he has, been, placed. I ■wish, it'to'be'thoroughly- understood that I •am-of-opinion' that every right and privilege enjoyed V the European people of tie country should be extended'to our friends of the' Maori race. I'think; it .mustbo.apparenlto .•anyone 1 who; has''looked.;.into'.-the position that very ■dangerous' .precedents are behig established'with regard, to the. two .points'l have dealt \rith.".'.'; V'.'i."-..'.: ; ;; .. : . . • .-'■'