MR. WARD AT HAWKE’S BAY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 33, 13 February 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

MR. WARD AT HAWKE’S BAY.

(From the Southern Cross, Jan. 28.)

The meaning of the new policy is gradually dawning upon men’s minds. Mr. Crosbie Ward has been preaching its doctrines at Hawke’s Bay, and upholding the majesty of the law and the rights of the Crown by explaining—undoubtedly to the satisfaction of the natives—that both are to be left to shift for themselves for the future.

The runanga is becoming a fact. One was held some time back, not very far from Auckland, when laws were passed showing the strong aspirations of the natives for self-go-vernment, and their cordial wish to cooperate warmly with the Government in its desire to raise them in the social scale. Several acts were passed of a most practical kind, and forwardad to the Governor for his approval. They affirm the unalienable right of the native race to receive grass seed —“ of a good quality, free from weeds, etc.”—and likewise recognize their constitutional right to be presented with horses and ploughs—should they want the latter, “ but at present they are pretty well off in this respect”—and all this at the cost of the Europeans. They have large tracts of land which they will not sell, and as it would appear cannot afford to cultivate ; and it is therefore only just that Europeans should pay in order to enable them to do so ; for so it seemeth good to the runanga. v Down at Hawke’s Bay a runanga will soon be sitthlg, and much business will come before it. Our readers must understand that the great policy of the do-nothing Ministry is to allow the natives their own way, and not to interfere with them in the management of their own land. Mr. Ward, however, is not the man to leave his fellow-countrymen, even under these circumstances, in the lurch, and so kindly volunteers good advice. He gives them all he can, and even if he can give no more, advice falling from the lips of a Responsible is no small offering. He recommends British subjects to address a memorial to the natives praying them to act for permanent advantage of both races. We extract the following answer to a series of resolutions forwarded to him by the working men of Hawke’s Bay. [The extract has already appeared in our columns.] It appears therefore, that the Government are willing to leave the privilege of managing their own land to the natives ; a most praiseworthy determination, considering that the privilege is one which the natives have always enjoyed, and are not now likely to surrender. Certain limitations, however, are then alluded to, and one specially mentioned, but it proves to be no great novelty. Mr. M’Lean has insisted for the last half-dozen years or so that claims shall be adjusted and boundaries determined prior to purchase. The much-abused land purchase department used to do this work in olden days, and not being composed of men like Mr. Ward, who described himself in his speech at the meeting held at Napier on the loth ultimo, as one who “ could not profess to know much of the native character nor anything of the language,” they did it tolerably well. So far, therefore, the new policy consists in not doing what cannot be done, and what nobody has ever attempted to do, and in undertaking to do what far abler men have done and done well. But passing into the last paragraph we really Hud something quite new. The District Runanga is to be petitioned ! Now this will never do. Europeans did not come out to New Zealand to petition natives vested with unconstitutional powers. We are ready to deal with them as fellow

subjects, but not otherwise, and we deny the right of any Governor or Ministry to hand over to them the management of matters affecting both races. It may be a policy, but it is certainly a gross injustice. But what is to be gained by all this pretence of settling native difficulties, when nothing is settled ? The land question is just where it was, and a mere allusion to the only possible means of solving it—namely, individualization of native title—is deprecated by Mr. Ward. We must extract that gentleman’s remarks on that subject. The passage will be found in the report of the speech to which we have already alluded:—

“ There was one point referred to by Mr. FitzGerald, which he would touch upon. In refering to the recognition of native title, that gentlemen had used the expression ‘individualization of title. Now he would ask him not to use that expression for the future. The title, when determined will be as it is now—a tribal one. The efforts of the government would rather be directed to prevent individualization of title by natives as well as by Europeans, for the present, preferring that the land should be dealt with by the whole.” Anybody reading over the above must, we think, come to the same conclusion as ourselves—namely, that the present Government is ruining the country. All our difficulties in New Zealand arise from the existence of the “ tribal right.” Communism in land has been the main obstacle in the way of the progress of the Maori race, and Mr. Ward pledges himself to do his best to maintaiu it as a social institution. He does not say that individualization of title is impossible, but seems rather to fear the possibility and anticipate the probability of its being brought about, and promises to direct all his efforts to “ prevent” it. This is plain speaking, and we trust that Auckland men will understand and appreciate it, and with it the Ministry whom their votes placed in power. Our cotemporary of Saturday is in raptures at the success of the Postmaster-General’s visit to Hawke’s Bay. Not only did the latter do and say great things himself, but he was the cause of other men doing likewise. The bench was actually affected by the policy, and a runanga pakeha determined that natives were not amenable to the law for breaking down fences and knocking down Pakehas, and assigned as a reason that they had nothing else left them to do under the circumstances. The charge against Mr Paora kai watu is therefore dismissed, notwithstanding that these little acts of violence were merely the prelude to a downright robbery of cattle jn open day, entailing even after part restitution a heavy pecuniary loss on the plaintiff, Mr. Shirley ; whilst in the cross-action the defendant was mulcted <£3o. All this our cotemporary thinks delightful, though he records likewise that the whole transaction was of such a nature that the “policy” was charitably led to put its hands in its breeches pockets—or rather those of the country —and pull out another £3O as compensation for Mr. Shirley’s loss. Two native assessors, who it appears were really parties to both actions, sat on the bench. The *• policy” is trying its “ prentice hand” in every direction. Judging from the tone of the Hawke’s Bay press, its success there has not been great. The settlers see that the legalization of private agreements with the natives for the depasturing of stock on native lands is calculated to retard the permanent acquisition of land, whilst they are perfectly aware that what the Government says about leasing lands for agricultural purposes, after settling of claims, etc., amounts to just nothing. If the natives agreed to give such a lease as would satisfy an intending farmer, they would be ready to sell the land out and out, and the settlers know this. Nothing, therefore remains but to buy land as we used to do ; but as ministers have already protested against doing so, and the “ policy” consists in leaving the natives to their own devices, the future of the Province is rather gloomy. Agricultural district it can have none, nor townships either, although it may possibly boast a few shipping places for wool; and so long as the “ policy” lasts, the population will in all probability consist of a scattered population of squatters living under Maori landlords, unprotected by British law, but amenable to a tribunal of rapacious landlords As matters stand at present, and are likely to stand for some time, the appeal will lie from Philip smashing one’s stockyard to Philip sitting in judgment: from Philip at the head of a imm, to the same gentleman presiding over a runanga, and carrying on a loving correspondence with Auckland.