TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1881. MAORI REPRESENTATION IN PARj LIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, 16 August 1881, Page 2

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1881. MAORI REPRESENTATION IN PARj LIAMENT.

j.. - — « The representation question has assumed a new and rather important phase. Many of the North Islaud members legard the readjustment of the representation on a population basis as calculated chiefly to enlarge the influence of the provincial districts of Canterbury and Otago in the House of Kepresentatives ; and it is therefore not surprising that they should openly claim that if a pure and simple population basis is to be adopted the large Maori population in the North Island should be allowed to count as a direct factor in the allotment of representatives. This phase of the question is one worthy of careful 'consideration. At present there are four Maori members in the House, — one for the South Island, and the remaining three for this is land, the districts being as follow — East Coast, West Coast, and the Northern part of the island. The Maori population of the colony being about 44,000, the present representation would give one member to each 11,000 of the natives. Were the same basis of representation accepted for Maoris as for Europeans, —i. c., one member for each 5000 souls,— the natives would be entitled to send five more members to the House than at present. The native population of the South Island being exceedingly small, the, five, additional members Would be returned from the North Island, and would tend to prevent the undue preponderance of the South Island id the House of Kepresentatives. The representation of the native race in both Houses of the Legislaj tore is now an accomplished fact, and I so long as the Bativee are of sufficient '

importance as a separate people to warrant the maintenance of a distinct representation we believe they will be represented in Parliament. Accepting, therefore, the position that the natives should be separately represented, the question arises " To what degree?" Should they bo represented to the same eitent as tne Europeans, or should a minimum of political power be conferred upon them ? In considering this question, it is difficult to rid one's self of prejudice. At first sight, our inclinations are decidedly opposed to admitting natives to an equality of representative power with Europeans. Nevertheless, if the matter is fairly looked into, much may be said in favour of the contention that the natives should possess equal representation with Europeans. The chief point likely to be dispnted is, not whether the natives have a right to equal representation, but whether they are sufficiently educated in the working of our political institutions to understand and properly appreciate the responsibilities proposed to be conferred upon — in other words, whether it is expedient to grant them any more than the appearance of representation ? "We think present experience of the working of Maori representation furnishes a sufficient reply to this question. The men who now represent the Maoris in the Lower House take an intelligent interest in the business, and a perusal of Hansard will show that os a rale their speeches are to the point, and, what is perhaps more important, they speak only on those subjects with which they are familiar, —a remark which can certainly not be truthfully applied to many of their Pakehp fellow - legislators. The Maori members are indeed excellent representatives of the intelligent, shrewd, hard-headed race to which they belong. They adapt themselves easily to the forms of the House,and are a credit to themselves and the country. Therefore we say that experience proves the natives would not abuse an increase of representation, and that if it is right thoy should be represented at all then they shonld be represented upon some recognised basis; and what fairer, as regards both the natives themselves and the respective claims of the two islands, than the population basis ? Amongst the arguments in favour of equal representation being accorded the natives, may be urged the fact that the large tracts of land still heid by them in this island entitle them to more than a minimum of political power as evidencing their " stake in the country "; whilst it should be borne in mind thac they con ■ tribute as largely to the revenue in the form of indirect taxation, — stamps, dutiable goods, law Court fees.&c, — as the average of Europeans. The fear of the native voters becoming the dupes of unscrupulous Pakehas is done away with by the fact of the persons for whom they vote being of their own race, which is in itself a sufficient barrier to a repetition of the disgraceful state of things which existed under the old electoral laws, when tho.natives were regarded as so many voting cattle, to be rushed to the booth by the most experienced and unscrupulous electioneering agent. Some persons may fear that an increase of the representation of the Maoris to nine members might confer upon the natives undue power, if ever they chose to exercise a " block " vote. There is but little danger of ' this in a House composed of nearly a hundred members. Besides, the ! House must at all times face the posi sihility of a " block " vote, not only from Maoris, but also from auy one of the hundred combinations which may be organised within it. Why it is not two years since the present Ministry were placed in office by tha votes of the Auckland Four. * So much for combinations. The whole question may be reduced to a very small compass. If, on the one hand, the present representation of the natives is a farce perpetually played for the sake of expediency, it should be abolished ; if, on the other hand, it is a recognition of their just political rights, they should have an increase of separate representation in the same proportion as that conferred upon the Europeans.

Timetable Alterations.— We understand tke proposed alterations in the railway timetable at this end of will be to the following effect. The first train out of Foxton will start about half-past eight, and will meet the down train at either Palmerston or Foilding, the first train into Foxton arriving shortly before noon. The afternoon train will remain as at present. la addition to the above, it is piobable an extra train will run into Foxton each Saturday morning about ten o'clock. These alterations are found desirable owing to the falling-off of the passenger traffic between Foxton and Palmerston. , It is stated that whereas under the previous timetable a considerable number of settlers at Oroua Bridge, Karere, and other places went by the morning train to Palraeraton, they are unable to do so now, as the morniug train is into Foxton, and if they go to Palmerston by the up train leaving Foxton at 10.45 they would be able to return to their homes only by the night train. It is alleged that owing to this there is a great falling off in the receipts from the morning train. The exact details have not yet. been decided, but we believe the above are the substantial featnres of the proposed altera tions. The Broken Bridge. — The broken bridge on Adams' Hue is still euveloped in mystery. It was referred to at the Local Board meeting on Saturday evening, but no one could throw any light on the subject. Ab will be seen by the report, Mr P. Manj Kan was one of the men who ereoted it. In reply to «n enquiry we have made, h«

assures us mort p<mitivoly tu.it the stringer wan aound aud whole when he laid it dow n. Why any one should chop it in two is a problem difficult to solve. If it had been intended to injure any one, the guilty party did tho work very badly, as there was no probability of 'he bridge falling in until the dirt supporting the place when' it was cut hud washed away. It is doubtful if there is any uh-m-H of this singular business being fathomed. The Commercial Hotbl — A very fine hotel, named ad above, has just, been opeue<i .•vfc Palmerston, ne.tr the Railway Station. While on a visit to that town a few days aj. r <» o-.ii' rei>r«senta f ive wa-i shown over it by Mrs Wakefieli?, who is the housekeeper. The building is elaborately furnished, aud is complete in every way. Mr Coombes, who erected it, is at present in possession, but we hoar Mr Walkley, who at present holds a hotel at Wellington, will take possession on the first of the ensuing month. Deceased. — We regret to record the decease of Mra Charles Austin, of Johnsonville, and mother of Mrs J. P. Leary, of Palmerston. The deceased lady will be known to a number of our readers as the wife of Mr Austin, one of the oldest local preachers of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in the Wellington district. Her kindly ways and hospitality gained her the esteem cf all who had the privilege of knowing her, and her decease will be regretted by a large circle of friends. She died at the ripe age of 74, and as her life was one of unostentatious piety and goodness, without doubt her end was peaceful. R. M. Court. — The fortnightly sitting of the K. M. Court will take place tomorrow, before Mr Ward. There are three or four civil cases down for hearing, mostly for large amounts. There will also be heard three charges of breach of the Local Board byelaws, and a charge under The Public Health Act against Mr W. Greenough, of the Telegraph Hotel, Otaki. The information in this case is laid by Mr Knocks, in his capacity as clerk to the Otaki Highways Board, and the offence charged is permitting a nuisance to exist. The matter, it wilt be remembered, was brought before the Board recently by Mr Death, when it was resolved, " That seven days' notice be given to Mr Oreenongh to abate the nuisance complained of, and to remove the accumulation, and that the Chairman be authorised to take legal proceedings under the Public Health Act if Mr Greenough should fail to abate and remove the nuisance.' Land Sold. — Mr J. W. Liddell has sold 26 feet of land fronting Clyde street to Mr F. E. Jenks, for the sum of £8 per foot. We understand Mr Jenks intends building a shop at once on tho site, and has accepted the tender of Mr T. Easton to do the work. Customs Duties. — The Customs duties collected at Foxton for the month of July were as follows :— Spirits, £74 19s 9d ; tobacco, £76 2s 6 1 ; tea, £8 6a Sd ; sugar, £11 13s 4d; ad ml., 13s 3d; total, £171 159 61 Business Changes. — A change has been effected in the management of the Foxton Ready Money Store, Mr E. Osborne, who has been in charge of it for several years, having been superseded by Mr J. J. Robinson, a gentleman recently connected with the Ready Money Store" at Palmerston. We hear Mr Osborne thinks there is room for yet another store in Foxton, and intends to secure a site on the Main street upon which a store will be erected. The Ranger. — The Foxton Local Board Ranger appears to be doinr; his work well, as there is a great decrease in the number of wandering cattle. Occasionally he succeeds in making "a haul," aud it is rumoured that tomorrow one of the Commissioners of the Local Board will make his bow before his Worship the R.M,, charged with a breach of the law, in allowing a horse to wander at large. Sale at Otaki.— Messrs Thynne, Linton & Co. announce a sale to take place at Otaki on Friday next, August 19, of the household effects, books, surgical instruments, &c, of the late Dr Hewson. They will also sell the farm stock, implements, &c. The sale will be a most important one, and persons having a few pounds to invest in the improvement of their homes or the stocking of their farms, can hardly do better than avail thani3elvea of the opportunity of this sale. Public Hall.— When referring recently to the improvement of the path to the Public Hall, we forgot to mention that Mr A. J. Whyte, the lessee of the hall, has had a roll of matting laid along the centre of the building. This is a great improvement, as it deadens the sound of persons walking down the floor, which has at concerts and entertainments proved so great a source n» annoyance to both performers and audience Rowing Club.— We are requested t° call the attention of members of the Manawatu Rowing Club to the notice that a meeting will be held at Whyte's Hotel this evening, at 7 o'clock. A Good Deed. — A correspondent at Otaki writes to us an account of a good deed performed by the Rev. J. M 'William. It appears that a few days ago the rev. gentleman was assisting the removal to n more comfortable home of an aged woman named Grace Clark, who is the recipient of charitable aid, and when crossing a bridge on Mr Death's property the foundation gave way, and both the dray and its contents were precipitated into some six feet of water. With considerable difficulty the horse was extricated, but assistance had to be procured before the cart could be got out. Mr M 'William, though wet to the skin, remained at his post until everything had been recovered. The Otaki district is fort unate in the possession of a clergyman whoso piety and charity take such practical forms. Station Approaches. — Yesterday morn* ing. pursuant* to agreement, the members of the Local Board, accompanied by Mr J. T. Stewart, District Eugineer, visited the new railway station, for the purpose of examining the proposed alteration of the approaches. It should be explained that there is at present no road by which vehicles can reach the station. Consequently, passenger vehicles stop at the eDtrunce of the station grounds, while carts have to go round to the goods shed and deposit their loads there instead of dropping them at the station. It is now proposed to make a sidling road from Clyde street down to the metalled gronnd between the station and the outhouses, sufficient room being allowed for vehicles to turn. In order to make room the present post-and-rail fence will need to be removed, but we believe the Government are prepared to erect a neat fence as compensation for the ground takon. As explained on the ground, the proposals were regarded favourably by the members of the Board, and the matter will be at once gone on with. Ocean Mail Services.— The net cost of the San Francisco mail service for the past year was £8166, for the convey Anon of 443, 288 letters, 136.443 book", and 1.110,349 newspapers to th* c»lonv ; 463,900 letters, 23,314 books, and 433,048 newspapers from the colony. The net cost of the SuezBrindm serving was £9464, for the conveyance of 97,484 letters, 37,978 books, and 235,782 newspapers to the colony ; 57.307 letters, 2074 boobs, and 16,697 newspapers from the colony.

American Competition. — Landwirths* chaftliohe Zeitung strikes a note of warniug for Europe i»i the effect of American competition. It directs attention to the openn:ij and further deepening this season of the San Lorenz > aud Well and Canal, through which larve wh«sat-lad«sn ships from Chioasjo and Milwaukee cm ptst from L«k« Erie to Laks Ontario, and so out by the •Sc. Liwcence into die Adantic. Tats betokens a fun her cheapeniu s> of freight for the com ivu 'illy-increasing American cargoes. Germany has already placed duties mi American corn, thus making bread dearer for her people, without permanently beiietitiiug her formers. France is leliltsratiug on taking the duties off agri•mltura 1 productions, Austro-Hungary in becoming alarmed, Russia will shortly have to take measures for the protection of her peasant farmers from usurers if she wishes her wheat production not to be considerably diminished. And all this time the means of European nations are wasted in the maintenance of enormous armies of non-producers, or rather of destroyers, while America has free scope for her productiveness. Europe, though armed to the teeth, cannot combat against the new enemy of a competition with a free people, and her working population is flying to the New World, continually strengthening it against the Old. Such a state of things must ultimately lead to a cataclysm. — Dublin Freeman. A MrsicAi. People.— The New Zealand people are decidedly musical, for the returns show that during 1880 there were imported into the Colony 97 harmoniums, valued at £1,322 ; 59 organs, valued at £2,467 ; 705 pianos, valued at £23, 194 ; and 193 packages of other kinds of instruments, valued at £5,284. Total value, £32,267. A New Fodder Plant. — An Egyptian fodder plant known as Teosinte is well spoken of, and is said to thrive in the colonies. It grows from thirteen to sixteen feec in height, and is said to yield an immense quantity of feed in which saccharine matter is present to a considerable extent. Liverpool and Glasgow. — The Liverpool correspondent of the " Scotsman " thus contrasts the relative positions of Liverpool and Glasgow in point of population :— "The completed returns for Liverpool and district were made up on May 6th, and are as follows : — City of Liverpool — Everton, 109,788 ; Kirkdale, 57,768 ; West Derby, 67,705; Toxteth Park, 106,358} parish, 207, 132 ; total 548,649. The population of Liverpool and suburbs is 631,934. At the last census the town of Liverpool contained 498,797 inhabitants, and, with its suburbs, 5S 1,278. There is thus shown an increase of 49,852 persons in the city, and of 1 10,656 in thecityandsuburbscombined. Liverpool has thus beaten Glasgow in the competition for the distinction of being the second city in the kingdom. The present census returns for Glasgow show its population to be 510,816 or 37,833 behind Liverpool. With its suburbs, however, Glasgow contains 804,436 inhabitants, or 22,502 in excess of Liverpool and suburbs."