JUDGE THOMAS IN EXPLANATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 195, 16 September 1878, Page 2

JUDGE THOMAS IN EXPLANATION

To the Editor of the 'Evening Mail.' Sin—Will you kindly permit me a few lines ot personal explanation in re my Ryotwarry proposal. 1 will endeavor to take up most of the remarks I have seen. It is not true that the Native Minister wrote to me, and that I agreed not to visit the Maoris. He has never written to me. I visited the Maoris because the plan I put forward had to he understood by Maoris and English before it could be adopted, and no one could or would explain it to the Maoris but the author of it. I went to liewi because he is the leader, and it is his opinion and not that of subordinates that is of importance.

I went to him at this particular ttme becaus* this ia a valuable opportunity that will probably not recur, and I had a right to; for the Maoris are no more the private propert y of the present Ministry than they are of anyone else. I give the Native Minister credit for having honestly the good of both races at heart, and if so, I knew no design or word of mine would conflict with his views; for my proposals tend pre-eminently to open the whole country and draw the two race 3 together. It is not true that 1 f sked Rewi for " £1000 a year and travelling expenses," but it is true that I could start the scheme for him for the "fun of the thing." Thoiigh I cannot expect actors iv the great gadie of " Grab " to understand this, I fancy a few retired geutlemeu of active habits on many a Board and Committee throughout the country may be able to believe that to be usefully employed, whether in writing or otherwise, is less irksome than being on the shelf with nothing to do— and th» Premier is an instance. It is not impossible to make the Maori understand it, for I have succeeded. Naturally and reasonably so revolutionary a proposition entailed many a question and answer, but such reasonable treatment was the only course ou such a subject, and met with as frank a response. There is no impossibility, it simply remains for the Government to choose whether to permit, initiate, or reject the plan; That I should be abused most indecently by thefte whose highest code of honor and justice is "smartness," who cheat and boast t/f cheating better nnd more honorable men, though darker than tliumselves -excelling iv such low talent first amoug the Maoris and then among their own countrymen— is not surprising, for my proposal cuts the ground from under such men, and throws open to all the land that they wish to monopolise, but I trust all outside this selfish ring, whether of " ins" or of " outs " will give the proposal an unbiassed hearing. I am, &c, E. S. Thomas.