THAT AMUSING PETITION. Wairarapa Maoris Want King Dick for Governor.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 132, 10 January 1903, Page 8

THAT AMUSING PETITION. Wairarapa Maoris Want King Dick for Governor.

IF the Maoris of the Wan ai ana are entertaining themselves m a haimless fashion by petitioning the Crown to fill the Governorship ot the colony v. hen it next becomes vacant by appointing Mr. Seddon thereto, is there any reason for anybody to take offence thereat? It is not a cnminal offence for the aborigines of New Zealand to express then admiration of a man by desiring that he shall occupy the highest position in the land. It pleases them, and does not hurt anybody. It may hurt the petitioners, of course, if they find out that it is made a laughing matter, but, in the meantime, let them go ahead • • * Of course, a certain section of the press down South, and elsewhere, is grinding out articles suggesting that Mr. Seddon shall at once put a stop to this petition, but the said press does not see that there is nothing illegal in going round with a bit of paper and a pencil, gathering signatuies The petition is not going to have the awful effect they predict It is not going to put Mr. Seddon into Government House. A Governor is not appointed by the people — white, black, or khaki — of the colonies, and the Crown, of course, will take no notice of any petition from an inconsiderable section of people of either coloui • • * "We dare say the action of those Wailaiapa Maoris* has amused Mr. Seddon. It will be a break in the daily routine, and it will certainly interest him to note the awfully black looks of the press that sees an unconstitutional proceeding in fie affair. It is not in the least likely that the Crown will so far deviate from its principles in regard to colonial administration as to allow the people' of tihis colony to elect or nominate the vice-regal head, and the granting of that potation would mean just that • • • The Governor is not exactly the people's representative. He is the King's representative, and when the King resign® his prerogative of appointing his representatives, we will be able to call ourselves a republic. It is right and proper that the vice-regal representative of this colony, or any other

Bntish poscefcsion, should be imbued with the Imperial spirit, and that he should regard Ins charge from an Impenal rather tha.i a colonial standpoiut. No man, not having been brought up under Old Count ly conditions, with Old Count it prejudices if you like, could hope to be mote than colonial in his inteiesus • • * And, while the vordy war wages on the subject, the gentleman whom the uan-iois tip for the Governorship, because a few Maoris are calculating a petition, "lies low and sez nuffin." Why should he? He must know that the ultimate destination of that petition will be the waste-paper basket. Mr. Seddon is a strong man, who likes power, and he wields as much as he wants in his present position. It is qunt© unlikely that he would regard the possibility of filling the position of Governor of New Zealand with favour. He is eminently useful where he is. His utility would be lessened were he to leside m Government House. * *• Some of the people who fear the influence of those Maoris remark that a Governor should be appointed without any pressure by colonists. We wonder who is going to exert pressure, or who will take notice of any pressure exerted 9 Unless British institutions and ideas are undergoing a quick-change process, the old system ot appointments will probably be kept m working order for quite a long while yet. Anyhow, the little controversy which has been aiouoed ovei this matter has not done any harm, but the beating of wings against bars that are not theie must be distdnctlv amusing to the person most concei ned