THE MINISTERIAL POLICY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 706, 5 August 1869, Page 4

THE MINISTERIAL POLICY.

(Prom tue Dunedin Evening Star, 10th July.) s£r Fox is not likely to get through £he session without several long discussions on a variety of subjects. This is pnly what might have been expected, House of Representatives contains men of all shades of opinion on politi pal matters, and in the absence of those neutralizing resolutions that would have /enabled constitution menders and ama jteur war-prosecutors to move their amendments, they are preparing for Independent action, and intend to drag their hobbies into notoriety by separate motions. These will give them an opportunity of displaying their eloquence. No doubt during the long recess these various schemes on various gubjects have been imagined, brooded over, elaborated, and brought into form. It would be a thousand pities that the nurslings of mouths should never see the light, and that those wonderful political inventions should not be paraded before the admiring eyes of honorable gentlemen's cons.ti iuencies. Mr Fox intimates that no constitutional changes would be at tempted by the Government ; that provincialism would be maintained. This proposition does not meet the acceptance of those who would have all power emanate from one centre, 01 of those who would more minutely subdivide it. Mr Fox reduces the war to the cost of defence only ; other members would continue the aggres sive; while some would altogether initiate a new system of tactics. 1: must be admitted that some of thest. resolutions enunciate truths which it would have been much better for thr country to have recognised earlier Thus Mr Taucred's, as reported in the telegram received by our contemporary she Daily Times, point to tactics thai ought to have been dieted upon in tin .earliest days of the Colony. There is not an instance on record in history, that does not inculcate the necessity for Constant preparations to repel attackon the part of the border settlers. L was so between the Highlanders and ]Lowlanders, in Scotland ; between the border settlers of England and Scot land. It is so between the French and Arabs, in Algeria; between the countries of America and the Indians; between the Boers and the savage tribes of Africa; between the Bi i tish possessions, and semi civilised nations of Asia; between tie Russians, and the various tribes ol Central Asia. It might really have been imagined that the Maoris were a race of angels instead of the most war like of savages, when the unbounded srust that appears to have been i\ posed in them is considered. With or with out the sanction and control of Government settlement has been pushed in the North Island beyond all reasonable expectations of defence. No outneed wonder that outrages have taken place. The surprise is, that consider mg the temptations offered, there have pot been more. In old times, under the feudal system, castles would have been built in commanding situations, and barbarism would have been beaten jback into the bush. The lime has gone past fur such local despotisms but on tlu "death of the feudal institutions, no sub stitute was provided applicable to a similar condition of society. What ib now wanted is to localise the war. We have come from a country where popu lation is so homogeneous that no ar rangements like those necessary in New Zealand are required, and with our potions of right and wrong, such arrangements are very difficult. Amongst other doctrines held by the Imperial Government during the employment of the British troops in the Colony, was the necessity for protecting the Natives agajnst the aggression of the Colonists. It is evident that this is still a strong feeling with British statesmen, otherWise Earl Granville would not have! required an explanation why a reward was offered for the b <dy of Tito Jiowaru. No doubt Mr Taucred's resolutions, if carried, would induce, if pot perpetuate, a constant system of border warfare. He proposes that *' the out-s*ettlers should be entrusted with large powers for providing for their own safety and quelling disturbance, arms being supplied by the Government." Were such a scheme adopted, the doom of the Maori race — gr at least of inauy tribes —would be gguled • tor we cau hardly suppose that livy W9ttl4 §&are a better fate than the

aboriginals of Tasmania, the last of whom died a few years ago. There is no likelihood of its being carried, however, although in accordance with another resolution it would be wise t<> allow those who have recklessly placed themselves in danger to retire from their position into one where they cum be more easily and effectually protected, even should they be allowed to select land of equal value near the centres of population. The various proposi lions on the notice paper seem hardly likely to embarrass the Government much. The II).so has placed Mr Fox in power for a specific purpose. He is required to reduce the war expenditure; and he proposes to do so. It would be, therefore, very unwise to hamper him in his operations by conditions that form no part of his calculations, and the adoption of which might induce totally different arrangements. H» J thinks he can see his w iy to spending not more than £150,000 on tiie Colonial troops. But we are not to flitter mrselves that no more is to be spent for defence. This is the cash payment. If British troops are obtained, we get their help on credit. But if they are not obtained, whit then? Mi' Fox saith nothing on that subject.