HOW THE MONEY GOES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5765, 20 September 1879, Page 3

HOW THE MONEY GOES.

(From the Poverty Bay Herald.) It is a sad reflection for those who can reflect, that the hotel-keepers of Poverty Bay are rejoicing exceeding much, because a number of Maoris are about to receive con. aiderable sums of money from the Government in pay for their lands. Say the hotelkeepers, “ the Maoris never keep their money ; don’t save it up ; don fc turn it to protit. able account. They drink it, and so let us rejoice.” Bye-and-bye, when the Maoris have parted with their lands, and have drunk themselves into disease, and have lost all relish for work, then wo shall be taxed to build them asylums, and further taxed to support them. Could a paternal Government not find out a way by which the Maoris shall economise their money to prevent them from becoming pauperised and made a charge upon the country ? When a child comes into a large estate, his guardians do not allow him to squander it until he has reached an age to know what he ought or ought not to do with it. Are these Maoris not very children when

they hare money to command ? Why not make the Maori lands, whether bought or leased by the Government, or by private persons, go to the Maoris in the shape of an annual income, be it small or large ! The Government of this country, when it? history comes to be written, will be charged with having debased and demoralised the 41 noble sav >ge.”