The Evening Star MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3178, 28 April 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1873.

When Mr Reid asserted that “ trash ” was circulated in regard to Native affairs by this and other journals, lie surely forgot there were such records as Hansard and the Blue-books, containing papers and minutes of PaiHamen tary proceedings. The quotation he favored bis constituency with fl 0111 Mr Stafford's speech was no disproof of what was published by the ?TAR, in regard to the Native lands \ but it is a proof that, in a covert way, lie promised to divide amongst the Natives without sufficient justification, that which, mistakenly or otherwise, had been taken in punishment for Native rebellion. When the Maoris who had been confined in Dunedin Gaol were liberated, there might be, and is, a good reason for provision being made for them. We do not know how Air Reid reasons on such matters, but for our parts we have always been taught to believe, after a man has endured the punishment inflicted on him for an offence against the laws of his country, he is thenceforward entitled to be considered to have expiated his crime, and it is as impolitic as it is ungenerous to throw it back in his teeth. Especially is this the case in political insurrections. Victory makes a man a hero, but defeat does not make him a villain. Mr Reid remembers the crimes of the Maoris against the whites, and forgets the euphoniously-called punishment inflicted by the whites upon the Maoris. He forgets the laids of Colonel Macdonnell and General Chute —very necessary operations in a state of warfare we do not doubt—but still involving death to the Maoris and destruction of their whares and stores of food. They were successful and of course their deeds were glorious. He forgets that the more Natives that were killed, the move glorious the achievement, Granted that we owe much to the brave and gallant men who did so much, equal merit must be awarded to the Maoris who made as brave a stand. Mistaken they were no doubt: so were the Fenians \ so were the Highlanders who fought for Prince Charles —but they were brave men and deserve to be honored and respected by the brave. That they see not with civilised eyes is their misfortune, not their fault, and because of that there is greater excuse than for the Fenians. But that does not justify the bidding for Maori support by the Stafford Administration. Yet Mr Reid no doubt forgot their crimes when his party needed their help, or he would have opposed the bid. What was Mr Gillies’s statement in his budget speech September 27th, 1)872, but a bid for support? Let our readers judge :

Then lie took credit for L 1.8,(DO Ida lid to be rccciied from the Confiscated Lands Account; but he overlooked the fact that even if that amount were recovered, L 9,878 9s lid of it was due, not to the Consolidated Fund, but to the Special Fund from which the advance bad been made. 1 cannot, however, treat any part of it as an asset. Iha ve examined into the quantity and position of what remains of the confiscated lands, and I believe that, after granting to the Natives from whom they were taken a considerable portion—as we mean to do -any balance remaining will not pay, certainly not more than j my, the expense of management and claims njton them. Tims L13,(550 Ids lid, included as an asset by my predecessor, ceases to exist. Remarking upon this part of Mr Gillies’s speech on the motion of “no confidence,” on which the Stafford Ministry was defeated, Mr Vogel said ; I will not now urge my opinion that the illconsidered and hastily enunciated views of the Government on the subject of the confiscated lands are likely to be productive of incalculable injury. A few weeks since, when the Tramways Bill was passing through Committee, the present Colonial Treasurer urged that a clause should be inserted giving the Government the power to apply the confiscated lands, or portions of them, to the construction of tramways. ,The discussion, having taken place in Committee, does not appear in Hnnmrd; but I recollect a very strong expression of dissent on the part of the honorable gentleman when some one suggested that the confiscated lands should lie returned. Bince then another tone has been adopted, and I am constrained to say that I do not believe it has been the consequence of any deep reflection, or of any well-considered and statesmanlike policy, but rather that it has owed its origin in the desire to conciliate .Maori votes, to obtain a majority in this House. I am aware that utterances of the kind are not to lie recalled. Nothing will do away with the fact that her Majesty’s advisers have expressed such opinions as these gentlemen have done. My late colleague, who filled the office of Defence and Native Minister, assured me that a sufficient amount would be received from the confiscated lands before the end of the present year to pay off the debt to the Consolidated Fund. 1 utterly repudiate the attempt of the ('olonial Treasurer to make the late Government responsible for bis policy. It must be remembered that there was then no responsible Ministry for Native affairs, and truly enough did Mr Vogel say it was a “perilous position ” to have a Government conducting the affairs of the Colony without a Native Ministry, or one who was able to discharge the duties of that otlicc. No doubt Mr Reid will demur to the latter part of Mr Vogel’s statement; and perhaps Mr Reid’s constituents, after what he said, may be inclined to doubt whether we arc speaking the truth regarding the Ministerial arrangements of the Stafford Executive. Such a doubt is very reasonable ; for few would imagine that any Government would be rash enough to run such a risk, witli past experience to guide them. We, therefore, ask all doubters to believe the Honorable Mi Sewell in the Legislative Council, who said, ou the 10th September :

I took occasion, at the last meeting of the Council, to wake a brief statement as to the

formation of a now Government, which had taken place in consequence of certain action in another branch of the Legislature. I stated then that Mr Stafford had undertaken to forma Government ; that I had consented to join him : that Mr fund had undertaken the ofhcc for Minister for I’uhlic Works ; Mr Gillies had undertaken the office of Colonial Treasurer ; and that Mr Curtis and Mr Fitzhorbert had also joined the Ministry ; but that at that time it had not been distinctly arranged as to what particular office each Minister would hold. lam now in a position to supplement that information by stating that I have undertaken the duties of Colonial Secretary; Mr Curtis lias undertaken the duties of Commissioner of Customs and Commissioner of Telegraphs, and will also undertake the duties of I’ostmastcr-Gcncral until the addition to tiro Government of some gentleman who will take that office; and Mr Fitzhorbert will hold an office which I am extremely glad to sec brought back within the category of offices held by responsible Ministers —the office of Secretary for Crown Lands.

We suppose Native affairs were reserved for administration by the one or two Maoris who were to be added to the Ministry. No doubt they would have made short work of the confiscated lands. Perhaps Mr II kid may Dan these extracts “trash”: at any rate, they are difficult to get over, and they tell that, in one short mouth, sufficient mischief was done by the Stafford party to cause serious difficulties to any who succeeded them, for, as Mr Vogel truly said, “ such utterances cannot be recalled.”