The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1876.

Evening Star, Volume 4245, Issue 4245, 4 October 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1876.

Asa rule class representation in the Legislature is a thing to be avoided. It fosters class feelings in the community, while the Legislature is hampered by the presence of bodies of members who look at every measure brought under their notice from a particular standpoint and record their votes, not fr m considerations of the general welfa e, but with a view to effect certain ends, to accomplish which they are prepared to sacrifice everything else, ‘ ‘ The Irish Brigade ” has long been a mischievous element in the House of Commons ; not that its members are less talented or high-minded than their brother representatives, but because it is impossible to get “the Brigade” to actin’ accordance with views of national policy, their support being given to the Government or the Opposition just as the leaders of the Brigade happen to think one party or the other most likely to forward their interests for the time being. The Maori element is the class representation in the New Zealand Assembly. It is small in numbers, and the voices of its members are seldom heard in debate ; but its influence is much larger than would at first appear. In 1873 it settled the fate of a Ministry. Until recently, two of the four Maori members of the Lower House were Executive Councillors ; in other words, half of the Maori contingent was seated on the Government benches, and the other two were constantly looking with hungry eyes at their luckier brethren. None of these gentlemen speak English, at all events in the House. An interpreter sits beside them who translates their observations into English when they are pleased to address the House, and, it is to be presumed, tells them something of what is being said by the European members at other times. Now, since very few of the European representatives can speak the Maori language, it follows that free discus sion cannot take place in between the two, and the Maoris consequently gather their political ideas from sucn of the European members as happen to be conversant with the Native tongue. It is absurd to suppose that, under such circumstances, their votes can be given with a full comprehension of the matters before the House. They are simply tools in the hands of individuals,

There is another drawback to this Maori representation, arising from the want of a common language between the European and Maori members. The latter are unable to read the Bills presented to the Legislature, although they can, and in accordance with their duty ought to express their approbation or disapprobation of all of them. They are in a similar plight with regard to Bills specially affecting the Native race, and have several times complained about it. The whole thing is in short a mischievous farce ; and all that can be said on behalf of the Maori members is, that they behave them selves with propriety i» the House, and in that reapeejb set a useful example to some pf their white brethren. Their discreet conduct probably saved them from political, extinction when the last Maori Representation Act expired. The House evidently unshed to g t rid of the Maori members, but could not find heart to do so—they had behaved so v eil The speeches made pp the occasion oi the renewal of the Ajt principally eonof fulsome compliments to the Natives for not having misconducted themselves, which the latter received with the prpfoundest gravity, though what their inmost thoughts were we are without means of knowing. Still, as the Maoris are in t ; e House the country must make the best of It: but it is quite another thing to increase their number from four to seven, as Ta'aboa pro poses to d ( >, A Bill to this effect was read a ar oond time recently, but when it got into Committee the sympathy which had previously been expressed in the House for its object fortunately slackened in warmth, and the Bill was so amended as to make it merely a Bill to secure the present Maori members in their seats. In other words, the backbone was taken out of it, and presented to the Government for its ,f consideration durum the recess.” Besides those mentioned, there are half a dozen substantial reasons why Taiaeoa’s proposal should be rejected. Jt is, in the first place, inadvisable to disturb the representation. Jt was re-adjustcd last session, and if it requires alteration so soon, the change ought to be made on some general principle, and we are not prepared to deny that, at some convenient season, a fresh distribution of teats might profitably take place; but the present is certainly notan opportune time for such a work. The House •s moreover, already too numerous. It is the largest in the Australian Colonies, containing eighty-eight members ; and on this ground alone it would be objectionable to add three to its number. T o)> dp we {mow supposing the path were otherwise clear, that the Maoris are entitled to more than four members. The race puipberg some 45,000 persons, of whom perhaps 5,000 i er fuse to acknowledge the Queen’s sovereignty

or laws, which leaves 40,000 to be repxt* Stinted. The Maoris thus get one member tp every 10,000 persons ; and since Dunedin lias one member to about 7,500 there cannot fairly be said to be real inequality between the two, seeing that the best of the Natives have but just emerged from barbarism, while the worst are still steeped in its vice and ignorance. The mistake is in permitting the Maoris to enjoy special representation in Parliament at all. They should be granted precisely the same franchise as is exercised by Europeans, and no other. They are, under the existing law, entitled to put their names on the electsral roll, if possessed of the same qualification as is required of Europeans ; and numbers of Maoris in Hawke’s Bay and elsewhere have thus registered themselves as electors; thereby acquiring the power of returning members of their own race to the Assembly in the ordinary manner. As a matter-of-fact a Native did become a candidate for the East Coast district, the electoral roll of which contains the names of both European and Maoris, at the recent elections, and boldly appealed to the whites for their suffrages. _ But while placed on an equal footing with the colonists in reference to the franchise, they are further gifted with the exceptional privilege of special representation, which, instead of being a blessing to them, is rather a curse, since it takes away the stimulus to industry and the acquirement of civilised habits which the hope of attaining a _ place on the electoral roll, side by side with the settlers, might furnish. And while it thus tends to perpetuate the social differences existing between the races, it injures the Colony by introducing into its Legislature an element whose movements cannot be controlled by legitimate means.