Hawke's Bay Times. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1868.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 570, 20 April 1868, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times.

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1868.

Kitllius aJdidus jurare hi r crha magistri.

M A 0 111 R E P R E S E N T A X lON. We Lave given our views on the above question long since, but at present we have to do with fact. The election for this district has taken place, and a Maori candidate has been returned as M.H.R., who will of course take his seat at the next meeting of the Assembly amongst the Commons of New Zealand.

Time alone can show the working of this curious experiment. We are told that the gentlemen representing die Southern Provinces wish to see it tried ; that they had no faith iu the opinions of Pakehas on Maori quesduns, but wished to hear from the mouths of Maoris themselves what dieir people wish and think. We are further told that it will be productive of good to show the Maori people that they have a distinct voice in the grand Council, through which they may he heard, altogether apart from f’akeha influences; —and wo are not iisposed to deny this in ioio. It will perhaps flatter their vanity, and re* move a fancied grievance—that is all. They have sense enough to know that they did not labor under any real dis-

ability; that the suffrage was as open to them ail as to their European neighbours ; and that the mere fact of being a Maori did not shut the Assembly to any of them who might, by luiiiio :-t limes-, ho able to secure an election —and oven this might have

happened iu time. But this is an ex-.-•..-iiijcnt in special and exceptional

«v;«\-sontation, —obviously and con;'ciscd!y the representation of a dasin addition, and supplementary to, the -ruinary representation of the people. A single session will be sufficient to ° te;t the principle involved. There is ■.he almost certainty that these Maori members will be mere instruments in the bauds of the Government—adding to its strength; and, on the other hand, the working of the scheme will be subjected to the crucial test of a vigilant opposition, whose watchfulness will detect and expose any flagrant oreach of the power thus placed in the hands of Ministers. And there is this further risk—lf the scheme should not mcceed its suppression will be liable to cause more disaffection amongst the Maoris than its bestowal will have removed.