A NAPIER VIEW OF THE NATIVE POLICY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1305, 25 May 1878, Page 3

A NAPIER VIEW OF THE NATIVE POLICY.

[“Daily Telegraph.”] It is very evident, from what the “ New Zealander ” says, that Sir George Grey is extremely anxious that the preposterous proposals which ho made to the King natives should not be submitted to the General Assembly before they are so far agreed to by the Maoris as to prevent the colony withdrawing them without bringing dishonor on the Government. The “New Zealander,” which is now the Ministerial organ, says in reference to the late Hikurangi meeting, that “ Tawhiao appears fully to recognise the fact that it is desirable the whole aff ir should bo settled before Parliament meets, and his word is pledged to have the third and final meeting before that time.” We imagine that Tawhiao would not have recognised “ the fact ” unless its desirability had been impressed upon him by the Premier. It might have been suggested to the King that, in accepting the proposals, he had everything to gain and nothing to lose, and that if he did not quickly make up his mind Parliament would step in and prevent Sir George Grey from giving public property away for no beneficial object. The “New Zealander” says that it was the bounden duty of the colony to suitably provide for King Tawhiao and his people. The only duty in this respect that we can see devolved upon the colony was to provide suitable prison accommodation for those miscreants and murderers amongst Tawhiao’s people who have hitherto found a safe asylum in the King country. As for Tawhiao himself, the duty of the colony was to leave him alone in the obscurity into which his self-imposed isolation had relegated him and his tribe. Wo venture to think that the most mischievous day’s work Sir George Grey has ever done for this colony was accomplished at the Hikurangi meeting. In the first place, his actual presence at Hikurangi was tantamount to a recognition by the Government of Tawhiao as King of the Maoris. Secondly, though it was impossible for the Premier to make complete restitution of the confiscated Waikato ianda, the proposals be made amounted to it as near to it as could be, for they permit the most disaffected natives in New Zealand to return to country out of which they were only driven by an immense expenditure of blood and treasure. Thirdly, the offer of a gift of money was equal to an admission that a wrong had been committed by the Government, and that £SOO would be given in reparation of an injustice. However anxious Sir George Grey may bo to conclude the degrading concessions he has made to the King without interference, we may be sure that the General Assembly will not rest quietly under the degradation that has been imposed on the colony. We trust the General Assembly will repudiate the disgraceful bargain the Premier has made, and absolutely refuse to concede anything to the King until all murderers in his keeping have been delivered up to justice, and the Q,ueen’s supremacy acknowledged.