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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5478, 17 October 1878, Page 2

XIEFBIUHNO to the excision of the Maori freehold franchise from the Electoral Bill, tho Ministers, in their journal, malm tho following observations; —“This laudable and politic deskm has been frustrated by tho Upper House, and it now remains to bo seen bow tho Assembly will take tho arbitrary thwarting of a really good purpose. In point of fact, tho elimination o£ this extra advantage makes no material difference to tho Bill in its entirety.” Tho laudable and politic design has been frustrated, wo believe; but opinions differ as to wlrat that design really was. The difficulty before us in the above extract is the inconsistency of the two concluding sentences Can tho “ arbitrary thwarting of a really good purpose” bo held to (t mako no material difference to tho Bill?” In point of fact, the (Jouncil recognised that the real purpose of tho clause was to give weight to tho Maori vote in European elections in favor of the Government. More sugar and tiour and more blankets would

mean more votes and "more seats. The freehold franchise so cleverly alluded, to in the Statement on Native Affairs was received with equanimity, the real iniquity of the proposal which, giving the Maori the residential franchise, would place; him on the electoral roll with superior advantages to the European, only became apparent at the last moment. It is impossible to withhold a certain amount of admiration for the audacity of a course of conduct that is morally very blame worthy. “The Lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely.” No doubt this move, from a party point of view, was a wise one.