THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1880. THE WEST COAST COMMISSION.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2100, 16 November 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1880. THE WEST COAST COMMISSION.

The decision arrived at to appoint a now Royal Commission on West Coast Native Affairs need surprise no one. It is tho most natural sequel possible to what has already been done in tho matter. Sir Dillon Bell has been appointed AgentGeneral, and consequently tho legal quorum of the old Commission was broken up, Mobi Tawhai having retired some time ago. Now the Commission is not a seporato power, as the Opposition papers delight in making it out to bo. It occupies more the position of a Board of Advice. Sir George Grey certainly was desirous of giving to it powers altogether incompatible with tho position of such a Board, bnt tho Ministry were not to be drawn into the trap. The Commission has faithfully adhered to its proper functions and Ministerial responsibility has not been trenched upon. Looking upon the Commissioners as advisers to the Ministers, and recognising the fact that no deviation is intended in the continuity of Ministerial action with regard to Native affairs, it is evident that tho chief desideratum in tho now Commission that had to be formed was that no break should occur in the line of advice to bo given. Sir W. Fox is tho only man of position who is thoroughly versed in tho statistics and varied information on which the Commissioners based tbeir report. That report was so thoroughly satisfactory that any element of discord that might be introduced into the Commission by the appointment of another gentleman in the place of Sir Dillon Bell would merely weaken the strength of the advice to he given. The two Commissioners have hitherto been entirely of one mind in the steps they have recommended, and these steps have commended themselves to tho good sense of the nation. The policy of firmness combined with conciliation that was the key note of tho throe reports, has been thoroughly incorporated into the acts of tho Ministry. Opposition journals have ridiculously asserted that Sir D. Bell has been appointed AgentGeneral with the object of breaking up the commission, and allowing a now departure to be made in native matters. Tho proposed appointment of Sir W. Fox is tho best answer to such an assertion. He will continue to adviso tho Ministry in tho same direction as heretofore. All tho essential points laid down by Sir W. Fox and Sir D. Bell will he adhered to, for tho Ministry find they have no cause to regret following tho steps recommended by those gentlemen.