THOROUGH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5476, 15 October 1878, Page 3

THOROUGH.

(From the Otago Daily Timts.) So much vigorous denunciation has been evoked in connection with proceedings in the Bay of Islands electorate, that no small interest generally attaches to the inquiry instituted a* to the removal by the Government of the registration and returning officer of that district, Mr. E. Williams, It will be borne in mind that a large number of names of Maori claimants had been presented for enrolment, to the whole of which the then returning officer had entered objections, and that, pending the consideration of those objections, the returning officer, Mr. E. Williams, was dismissed from his position. That officer not being present to sustain his objections, the list of applicants was passed in f/loho f aud added to the electoral roll of the district. Here were circmnstauces calculated at once to arouse suspicion; and, aided by telegrams sent to every part of the colony, the affair was. at once pronounced to bo a case of gross and unwarranted political partisanship on tho part of the Government. It was universally proclaimed that tho officer in question, had beeu purposely removed at this particular juncture, so that he might not be able to sustain his objections, aud that thus, through the direct interference of tho Government, tho roll was “staffed” with Maori voters who had no right to the franchise. It did not suggest itself, or if it did it was conveniently overlooked, that his removal from office had not taken away the right which the ex-returning officer had, in common with all other citizens, to object and to support his objections before the revising officer. That would have marred the effect of tho incident, and would have broken a link in the chain of connection between the Government and the “ staffing” of the roll. It was, therefore, very properly kept, in the background, and so the Government stood forth in the fall blaze of popular indignation as clearly guilty of a most frightful outrage on tho rights and liberties of the people. . No ono doubted that tho case would compel a very searching inquiry when Parliament should meet; aid so people waited with bated breath and with bottled wrath prepared to pour it all forth on the heads of tho guilty, so soon as the eclaircissement should be made. In due course of-time the affair was submitted for inquiry to tho Native Affairs Committee, and as that body contained among others Mr. Fpx, Mr. Williams, tho brother of the dismissed officer, and several others of similar sentiments respecting the Government aud their dealings with tho natives, it was very properly considered that every dark thing would be brought ■to light. The investigation was, as the case demanded, of a very, searching kind, and evidence of the most voluminous character was taken, and we have now before us the report of the committee on the subject. The committee do nob pronounce on the propriety or impropriety of the particular claims that were made on the : occasion by the native claimants, advising that a Royal Commission should bo appointed to take evidence and make inquiry within the district itself asl to “ the alleged impropriety in the making of claims to vote for the electorate of the Bay of Islands,” as they also waived the right to make any recommendation.respecting the propriety or impropriety of. tho principle known as " tho Maori dual voting,” which had been also raisedin the petitions before them. But on the main question of the dismissal of the returning officer, the committee are pleased to speak with very little ambiguity indeed, im this the chairman, Mr. Bryce, says:— " I am directed to report as follows : ‘ That in the opinion of the committee the Government was justified in requiring Mr, .13, Williams, tho brother of Mr. J. Williams, to resign his position of registration and returning officer, for the lectoratc which his brother, Mr. J. Williams, represents iu this House, aiid that in all similar cases a similar coarse should be pursued/ ” And this is tho melancholy outcome of all that burning indignation with which Opposition journals have been ablaae ; this tho ", ridiculous mouse” that has come out of the political mountain which has been in'so terrific throes of labor for many months past. , In the face of this deliverance, it is out of place to discuss the antecedent circumstances which culminated in the dismissal of the returning officer in question. Wo neither vouch for nor gainsay the charges which year after year for ao. many yearn hayo been raised against his conduct in relation ,to the electoral rolls and the elections ,in that district. It was freely said that his brother’s position as a member of tho Assembly, and an unwavering supporter of the late Government, made bis position impregnable as against all hostile criticism in tho papers, and all charges hurled against his conduct; and it was as freely said that there was nob the least possibility of tho electoral, roll being so altered as to make it possible for any other candidate to dislodge his brother from his seat in the Assembly. Anyone who knows anything of political struggles in tho northern portion of these islands knows how deep-seated has been the dissatisfaction felt at the relations between the returning officer and the sitting member for tho Bay of Islands. Those relations and their outcome may have been of the most innocent kind ; but such is tho wickedness of human nature that people habitually placed on them the moat corrupt construction, and regarded them as tho moans of confirming that vested right in the representation of the/district claimed by its “ governing class.” That "governing class” had not built up its wealth and ascendancy oh mortgages aud grog, and robbery, Hko the governing class of Hawke’s Bay. It had had a holier origin; for the missionary circle which gavo tho Carlotons and the Williamses, and their cousins and connections, to society, had had a consuming desire for the souls* eternal welfare of the Maoris, and it was with the object of relieving their dear dark brethren from the sordid temptations of the'world,, the flesh, and the!,devil that they had reliiotahtly'bboflbatdd to accep

considerable slices of Maori territory. Pointing with the finger to Heaven, and exhorting their native brethren to not have their treasure in earthon vessels, the Northern missionariea looked after the earthen vessels tbem.rblvcvj and it is but farther evidence of the inherent depravity of the-human heart that the sons of thi«c sainted Maoris hate the missionary clan with a perfect hatred, hi these circumstances, the addition of the name* of Maori farmer settler* and ratepayers, to the eleafioral roll would be in the highest degree inexpedient; yea, verily, for peradventure it might come to, pass that the children of Ngapuhi might forget the benefactors of their fathers, and deal despitefully at the ballot box. Hence the difficulties of franchise that beset the path of the hundreds of native settlers in that district who are engaged "in the cultivation of the soil, and in the tending of cattle, and in the felling of timber, with as much intelligence and settled habits of life as aro to be found among their pakeha fellowcountrymen. This is the state of things that has been rudely disturbed by the iconoclasts who are engaged in a crusade against all that is venerable by reason of its age, in the form of political abuse and vested wrong ; and this is that which has produced the howl of anger from the Bay of Islands which has rung through all the land. The present Government has done much in striking down established abuse ; but never since it came to office has it done a more meritorious act than in bursting up tho power of a clique that had almost ground political life out of the Bay of Islands, and there is not an honest mania New Zealand, that knows the circumstances, but wjll endorse the deliverance of Native Affairs Committee, “ I'hat in the opinion of the committee the Government was justified in requiring Mr. IS. Williams, the brother of Mr. J. Williams, to resign his position of registration and returning officer for the electorate which his brother, Mr. J. Williams, represents in this House, and that in all similar cases a similar course should be pursued.” ,