The Evening Star THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1875

Evening Star, Issue 3937, 7 October 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1875

The tactics of the Opposition are not difficult to discern. Defeated in their useless struggle against the Abolition Bill, their chief aim is to damage the reputations of the Ministry and their adherents, so that at the coming election unproved assertions may be brought against them as if they w. re established facts. We should be glad to think that the motion by Mr Sheehan regarding the land purchases in Hawke’s Bay was the emanation of his own brain, rather than a link in a course of proceeding dishonorable to the party and the Colony. There have been many shady transactions in the North Island, in which the Native,shave been overreached. There is evidence enough on that point. The report of the Native Minister, laid before Parliament this session, makes no secret of it. The action of the General Assembly in 1862, by which private purchasers were enabled to make arrangements with the Maoris without the intervention of the Government, paved the way for every abuse enumerated by Mr Sheehan, and we have no hesitation in saving was the means of throwing impediments in the way of the civilisation of the Natives, and of amicable relations between them and the Colonists. A !■ though, had the Government retained the right of pre-emption, nominally the lands might have realised a less sum to the Natives, they would really have been much richer in the end, because of their being subjected to no degrading influences, and because of the higher moral tone that would have prevailed in all transactions between the races. 1 f there had been no competition of crafty men, seeking by any means fair or foul to overreach the Maoris and each other in making fair sounding bids, and inducing their acceptance by potations of spirits, there would have been fair and straightforward bargains, not liable to repudiation, and on the ratification of which the whole Colony would have been bound to insist. Parliament in 1862 forsook the straightforward path, and the consequence was the Nonh Island became infested with unscrupulous land sharks, for whose action this Middle Island has had to pay heavily in the cost ot war, and in sustaining the Northern Colonists in their poverty. The Native Minister puts the case very mildly when lusays : Capitalist* were not slow ro avail themselves of the wide field thus op. nod on to thorn oi profitably investing tlnir money, am fro... time to time valuable tracts oi countiy were obtained them. Able agents, many of them fm merly officers of the Native Department, were employed.

Tfcev were to be found in every district, buyii* Up the T 'TVchoicest pot turn* of iJie o- uai-., ami year ’:y year, through their odnations, tfu carrying out of cry ?r>p? Colonial scu<-m= of hu d purchase wu» i-encieroij more and ino e dillioult. Such was the rest;]l, of the greed and grasping of the Northern Colonist;;, who, under the leadership of Sir George Grey, strangely enough backed up by Rome of our own Otago utembiTs, make no secret (hat they seek to repudiate the Compact, of 1856, and to merge our land in a common property for Provincial revenue. And why 1 On the alleged ground that the members of tho South Island were parties to the extinction of the Provincial land revenue of tho North when they consented to the acquirement of land by private purchase. It ia a lesson teaching that even in legislation it will not do to throw “ pearls before swine,” for they will not hesitate to turn and rend the easy, goodnatured fool. Wo regret that hdr Groroe Grey had so little care for his political reputation as to approve by speech and vote of Mr Sheehan’s motion. The intention of it was plain enough, it was that ho might, in his irresponsible position as member of Parliament, make statements he was not required to substantiate, but which, being published to the country, might bo used at the hustings at the coming election against the present Ministry. It does not matter when dirt is thrown that it is hurled in a wrong direction. It sticks to saint or sinner. The present Ministry are really made to bear the sins of some now in opposition. Very possibly some of their supporters may bo mixed with very shady laud transactions ; hut as on the dai'kest alleged one, Judges Richmond and Manning agreed the charges were either “ not piovrd or were entirely unfounded,” Mr Sheehan, being aware of that, should not have again brought it forward. Katene very wisely considered it was more a matter for the Supreme Court than for Parliament. The nca-effeetiveness of tho resolution, hud it b„en carried, the virulence of the attack, the tendency to unsettle friendly relations with the Natives, and the pointless character of the charges, indicate the object. It was intended to embarrass the Government, and to influence the elections. .There can be no objection to straightforward expressions of difference of opinion. There arc two sides to every question, and we admire honorable, high-minded conduct, whether for nr against Our opinions; but just as much as we honor a frank, open opponent, vo condemn and despinv those wliti stoop to crooked tactics, in (he long run they will be the losers, but before they are unmasked they may do much darn, go to abler and worthier men. We regret much, therefore, that so many have stooped to support what must bo regarded as unwarrantable by every right-thinking man.