THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1882. THE NATIVE QUESTION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2699, 1 December 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1882. THE NATIVE QUESTION.

There is at present a dearth of Native news from the North. Since the refusal of Tawhiao to accept the terms offered to him by Mr. Bryce, little haß apparently been stirring in Maoriland, except that one or two Native meetings are on the tapis, one of them being a meeting summoned by Te Kooti, to be held at Te Kuiti, and at which Tawhiao will bo present. The position respecting the King Country, therefore, remains just as it was at tho breaking off of negotiations, ami a very unsatisfactory position that it. For one thing was made very apparent in those negotiations, namely, th»r, the power of Tawhiao was not, after all, very large, and that the real, authority lay with the owners of tho land. Tawhiao and his tribe are strangers in the land where they are now dwelling, and Tawhiao himself is a nothing more or less than a puppet, who when the tng of war comes, does not count for much. He probably—as has been suggested by a correspondent to a Northern contemporary who is well verged in Maori feelings and traditions—has taken the line he has, because ho has preferred to bear tho ills he has than fly to those he knows not of. His position at present is certainly unsubstantial, but it is certain. He is the Bymbol of such a portion of independence as still remains to the Natives, and, although he clearly is not the magnate ho has generally been considered to be, ho evidently relishes what power he has. But what would be before him if Mr. Bryce's offers were accepted is not so manifest. He would evidently then become a meie landowner, and might in course of time find himself a very inconsiderable person indeed. It is possible that the influence of Wahanui may have induced tho Maori King to adopt the line of argument which we have suggested, for Tawhaio is not a vory strong-minded man. An individual who cannot exorcise sufficient self-restraint to prevent himself becoming terribly inebriated when an important Native meeting is going on, is hardly the sort of man to withstand the determination of an alvisor who is powerful both by character and position. Wahanui is one of the realities about the shadowy throne. Ho possesses broad acres, ready wit, and a strong mind. Consequently he rules the roast much as tho Mayors of the Palace need to do in tho old days of French monarchy. The question now remains, what is to be done with the prosent position ? Are we to be satisfied with tho new departure, or is it fair, just and desirablo thar, we should recognise that tho power which we have sometimes treated as a reality is in good truth a nullity. The question is mora complicated than it at first sight appears, because tho extent of power which has boen recognised in the Maori King is not at all certain. Sir George Grey no doubt absolutely recognised Tawhiao as possoasing, to a certain extent, sovereign powers, and he was ready, in exchange for certain concessions, to confirm him in his authority. The present Government has not gono as far as this, but the mattor has boen left in a vory vague state. And, singularly enough, tho furthor tho Government may have goue in the wrong direction in the past tho stronger their position would bo at the present moment. "We mean this. If the present Government have in reality recognised in Tawhiao a certain amount of independent power, they may, when that amount is shown clearly not to exist, or to have departed from him, logically declare that they will ignore his existence, and will in the future treat with the owners of land in the Waikato, as if there were no '

such person as Tawhiao. If, on the other hand, the present Government have recognised no amount of independent' power as belonging to Tawhiao, but have merely looked upon him as the head of a land league, then comes this awkward consideration. Mr. Bryce makes certain proposals to tho head of the league, and, when those proposals are not accepted, determines to ignore the league. That, certainly, is hardly fair play. The matter is one that might be argued out almost ad infinitum as far far as abstract principles are concerned, for the lines lie so close together that it is difficult to see clearly. Moreover the premises are by no means well denned. In practical politics, however, expediency takes a more prominent part than abstract principles, and we trust that in the present instance what Ministers will look to will be the greatest good that can be done for both races. It has been the fashion to think that the sequel of any introduction of Europeans into a Native territory is Burp to ensure the destruction of the Maoris. Late reports, however, from Native officers, show that under the more enlightened regime that now prevails, this ! need by no means take place. Ignorance of hygienic rules and intemperance have hitherto been the main causes which have decimated the Maoris when the two races have come together. But a remarkable improvement has of late been observable in tho Native customs in many parts, and when that is the case the result of the contact is byno means discouraging. It is not a hard and fast rule that the dark man must disappear whon the white man appears. The Kaffir has increased and multiplied in an extraordinary manner since onr occupation of the Cape. Why then should not the Maori do the same under favourable circumstances ? The opening up of the Waikato need not be followed by disastrous results to the Maoris. It would civilise the Natives, and give a new field of enterprise to the .colonists. Broadly speaking, therefore, it should be advantageous to both races, and we trust that no hair-splitting refinements may prevent its accomplishment. Mr, ir ßryee certainly is not given to splitting hairs, and has taken up a decided position at the present crisis. On the whole, it would appear that the one ho has assumed is the correct one.