New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5112, 11 August 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1877.

The Native Lands "Court Bill has afforded the Opposition another chance of trying tactics by which they hope to force the Government into an equivocal position. That is to say,'they decline to' bring forward a vote of want of confidence, but endeavor to force the "Government ■ to treat as r a vote of .want of confidence such an amendment as that of Mr. Ballanoe, or such a motion as.that of Mr. Rees", though in the first case the amendment; was proposed by a Government supporter, on a measure which the , Ministry had distinctly stated previously was not a party one, and though in the |second case, the •> mover had' expressly announced that hismotion was not made in party interests. "When the Government ye»terday postponed consideration of the'Native Lands Court Bill uptil Tuesday, Mr. Bunny, who is one of those anxious for the substantial recognition of merits that have been overlooked by the Government, cried adjourn, and, without lending his valuable assistance in the debate which followed shortly afterwards, left the House/like those brave and loudvoiced little boys who chalk up sentences on doors and run away to avoid the consequences of detection. ; The Government declined the , adjournment, as to have accepted it would have placed thern in the position of a. Ministry., who, in the face of a motion' upon a point they have declared vital to their existence,, ask an adjournment in order to consider their position. Thereupon, after a display of ignorance from Mr. Rees, vapid impertinence from Mr. DeLautoue, and several efforts by other Oppositionists to talk against time, the Opposition threw up the sponge, Mr. Sheehan announcing the fact .in a speech which was clever and good humored, but was marked by an important omission. He declared that Mr. Reid by joining the Government had, Samson-like, fallen into the snares of the Philistines, but he forgot to continue the simile and mention that the Opposition still retained a weapon peculiar to Samsoit, in the shape of Mr.' Rees, who inherits the possession of the historical jawbone. The Government having asserted their proper position in the matter under notice, it may be , well, in view of the course they may think fit to adopt! on Tuesday next, to point to certain facts in connection with the. present situation. Last year, it may be remembered, 'the Government introduced a Native Lands Bill, which provided for the sale; of native lands ' through, the. Law Courts. The general feeling of the House at the time was strongly to the effect that (the; natives' should be left-, as far as possible, to conduct their dealings with Europeans

without interference, and that the natives would. r a!gree 'to no' other bourse. : ;Sir Donald McLean consequently withdrew, hi's Bill, with a view to consulting Ithe Maoris on the subject". The Bill lately introduced was carefully prepared,- and circulated during,, the recess among Ithe Maoris.' One of the chief features of jthe Bill is the simplification and consolidation of the existing law, and the improvement of machinery for individualizing nativetitles. Greater liberty has beengiven tojthe natives in dealing with their lands.'. The objections to the Bill inside and outride the House' are curio'ifaly i contradictory. The natives say, in effect—" Let usjsell our lands', as we would oiir' pigs or lour potatoes. . . We r can trade r on equal terms with the white men. • We don't want any restrictions." The objections to the Bill in' tlie House are that there' are notj re'-i atrictions enough.-- That the Maori is not a match'for the European speculator, and that the native lands will pass into'the hands of speculators, to the detriment' both of European settlers and Maori people. Now difficult,to. say how these Objections are't6 be aud_ . it is unfortunate that the Opposition dosire to make-a. party..question of so seriously affecting the relations betwjeen the two races. It is notorious thatjther Government and their supporters jare anxious to promote settlement and toavoid

land jobbing among the that the Government are desirS'us'orSeeting the views of their supporters in amending their Bill,.wherever it may be thought likely to play,into the hands of tors ; and that, on the other hand, many members of the Opposition really "would like to see the means for Jahd speculation increased, and would rather see the Bill amended in that direction. Under these circumstances, there is good' reason for caution on the part of -tlip Government, and we are glad to see that no taunts induce the Ministry to play into the hands of their opponents at the expense of their friends. But, outside of this, there is the fact staring the Government in the face, that the natives must be satisfied with any legislation that is to be carried out, or else it. will be than useless. Caution in this direction is all the more necessary as the temper of the Opposition is shown. They jump at any chance of detaching a few supporters of the Government, but carefully avoid a division on any- question— evenla question of adjournment, like that of last night,—that would show the support the Government can command in the "Souse. It must be borne in mind in favor of the Government, on the other hand, thd,t no one has been able to accuse them, of want of diligence in bringing down business'; but it does not suit some members of the House to allow business to go on. For instance, the./ Education* Bill, which was brought down as soon as the House met, is still awaiting discussion. We are glad that the Government insisted last night iin continuing • business, and that consequently the Public Works Statement is now before the country. Another excuse for delay will thus be removed. It was instructive to observe that Sir George Gbey, while endeavoring as usual to stop business, asserted that the Government had shirked a financial debate. The fact was, as the Premier stated, that ho had postponed such debate, after consulting members of the Opposition, until the Public Works Statement had been made. And Sir George Grey had the audacity \to throw out this taunt while he vyas endeavoring to prevent the production of the Public Works Statement. The fact; is that he knows nothing of the public business, and cares less. It is often observed that he is not in the House when real business of interest to the people is going on. _ Perhaps he goes to bed on such occasions. But he is prepared to sit up to any hour to obstruct business by declaiming about the rights of man and his own wrongs. We saw the other day how the Opposition dealt with a question raised by.,themselves, when the Government challenged them. Their only hope at present is,, that they can so work existing circumstances into a situation which may enable a combination to be formed against the otherwise detached parties that have no common political sympathies or opinions. We feel confident that the country is not prepared to trust any combination, however, that has yet been suggested; and how much at their wit's erlds to form a combination the malcontents are may be seen from the numerous incongruous, and, in many cases, impossible combinations that have been put forward in the Opposition interest. It is plain that the country and the House in the end prefer the steady business-like attitude of the Government to the reckless - and unbusinesslike ranting of gentlemen who are endeavoring by every means in' their power,to undermine Ministers.