New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5108, 7 August 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1877.

The conduct in Parliament during the past two or three days of certain advocates of the Repudiation party may explain to some extent the delay that has taken place in bringing the libel action Russell v. Didsbukv and Gkindell to trial. It is difficult to deal with this matter, because we earnestly desire to respect the rule that cases suhjudice shall not be commented upon; but several matters which, although they do not directly bear on the question as to w'hether the Hon. H. R. Russell was or was not libelled by the Waha Maori in its issues of July and August, are remotely connected with it, having been brought forward in the House, have become fit subjects for comment. We protest in the first place against the palpable attempt on the part of Mr. Rees to prejudice the defendants’ case. On Wednesday last that gentleman asked the Attorney-General whether the Government were finding the means to defend the action, and secondly, whether the Waha Maori was now being supported by the public funds'] The answer to the first query was in the affirmative, and it was explained that as the libels complained of appeared in the paper during the time it was, by sanction of the House, published at the Government expense and under its authority, the Government thought it incumbent upon them to indemnify the printer and publisher from any legal consequences. As to the expense of the publication, at present that was being met by an arrangement which would subsequently be explained to the House. It might have reasonably been supposed that the matter would have there ended for the present. But no : Mr.’ Rees immediately gave notice of a motion for a vote of censure upon the Government for doing that which to have left undone would have amounted to a breach of faith calculated to have damned the reputation of any Ministry. The publication, at the time of the alleged libel being printed, was issued “ under the authority of the New Zealand Government,” as the imprint set forth, and it would bo simply monstrous if the persons employed to get out the paper were to be made responsible for the costs of defending a libel action. There may be a question as to the propriety of a paper being issued under such a mode of management, and it may be proper, if the libel is proved, that the Government

should be censured for allowing a Government paper to libel Mr. Russell, of whose honesty of purpose and zeal for the welfare of the Maoris of course we are all aware ; but Parliament itself, not the Government, is responsible for the one, and the contingency to which wo have alluded has yet to be realised. But to cast the editor and the printer in costs would be about as justifiable a proceeding as to make the compositors who put the alleged libel in type liable for costs. However, we apprehend this is all beside the question. Mr. Rees is actuated, not by any bona fide concern either for the economy of the public funds or the assertion of political principles, but is anxious to show the Repudiation party, to whose service he is the latest addition, how zealous he is in the cause, he has lately espoused. That part of the motion which has reference to the support of the Waha Maori since last session of Parliament, is a matter upon which we can speak a little

more freely, since it has no connection wuh the action in progress. We do not know what arrangement the Government has made for carrying on the paper, but it is very easy to imagine that the existence of the paper is absolutely necessary. For some time past, a newspaper called Te Wananya, printed at Hawke’s Bay ostensibly by a native chief, has been circulated throughout the parts of the colony populated by natives. Occasionally we have caught a glimpse of this, and we must say it is a very choice production. Its main object seems to be to breed disaffection with the Government of the colony in the native mind, and to push the influenceof an association, or ratheraolirpie in Hawke’s Bay, which has done more do retard the progress of the east coast of this island than can bo made up for in years to come. As an antidote to the baneful effect of the circulation of this almost treasonable paper, the T VaJca 'Maori has done good service, and its existence, as we said before, is an absolute necessity. And not for the purpose of urging the claims to public confidence of Major Atkinson’s Ministry, not for the purpose of pointing out the value of Dr. Pollen as Native Minister, nor in fact for any party purpose, but it is necessary for the purpose of teaching ' the natives that the majority of the people of this colony desire to see them treated with justice and consideration, and that the Government (we use the word in its broad sense) is not. seeking to stamp out .the native people in order to possess itself of their lands. It seems to be to the interest of a few persons to set race against race, and to stir up an enmity which might lead to bloodshed. It is to the interest of the whole colony that the natives shall be taught there is room enough for all, and on that ground alone we conceive that under the circumstances it is advisable to circulate an honest truthful newspaper among the natives, even though a small charge fall upon the revenue of the colony. If we want to educate the Maoris into a belief in the honesty of purpose of the Government, and to disabuse their minds of the prejudices it is sedulously attempted to instil . into their minds for political ;

purposes and personal gains, such a course is necessary ; and we should not be surprised if, instead of Mr. Rees’ vote of censure being passed, the Government were commended for the arrangements they have made to keep the TVdJca Maori going, notwithstanding that, in a small House, the vote was last year struck out without due consideration.