The Future Native Policy.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 93, 24 May 1895, Page 2

The Future Native Policy.

Speaking at Patea, Mr S?ddon (the New Zeaiand Times reports) said he was not blinking the fact. that the natives were a noble race ; yet compare them with thier forefathers, and the older settlers would corroborate his statement that they had degenerated. They had not far to seek for the cause of this degeneration. They had adopted our vices and eschewed our virtues; We ask them " Why don't you go on the land and cultivate it ?'' and the Maoris reply " Why don't you subdivide our lands and let each of us know wh>re his portion is, so that we may do the same with it as the Europeans do with their land." Here was the great drawback, more especially on this West Coast. The State must now as ff.r as possible have the native titles ascertained, have the native lands sub-divided, and permit exchanges ho as to consolidate individual interests where they are scattered. It must expedite as far as it cam these exchanges, so as to afford each native an oppori unity of getting upon a piece of land of his own. If the Slate did this, and destroyed, as it must and would, t lis communism that now existed aiuongst them it would raise their social condition. They were sufficiently intelligent to know that which was ;for ;their benefit, and he felt sure this was T he direction in which to take action for regeneration of the native race. .. What did the settlers tell him ? TLey'assired him that that the natives were being impoverished by these monthly meetings at Parihaka, and . that these meetings encouraged them to lead la?.y and dissolute lives. Therefore, everything which tended to discourage that state of things must be done. The natives admitted the evil themselves. They these constant visits and the strain thus imposed upon their hospitality impover : ished then—that, in fact, to use a good round Anglo-Saxon phrase, they were eaten out of house and home. Hospitalitv in festive seasons was all right in its way, and greatly to be commended ; but when it came to be abused, as it was in the case of the natives, then there was just cause for complaint. The settlers had said to him if only this could be prevented, and the natives brought to see how far they were injured in this way, and how beneficial it would be to get on their lands, we and they could Jive side by side under one law, each vieing with the other, and both races being happy, contented, and prosperous. There was a great future before the Maoris if tnis result could only be brought about. He believed himself this visit was one of the be.t things that could have happened. The attention of the colony had now hefcn forcibly called to the existing state of affairs. Having been Native Minister for over two years, he ought to have paid this visit sooner. He now knew ■where the fault lay, and could go to wo»k to have the law so amended that this subdivision should take place, the titles ascertained, and every opportunity given to the natives to get on the land jusb the same as was given to the-Europeans. (Loud applause.) After noting carefully what he saw at Paribaka,. he came to the conclusion hat the less notice taken of it the better, and he felt satisfied that if what had been stated that evening were carried out, and the settlers seconded tho efforts of the Government to encourage the natives to go on the land and cultivate it, aided in their separation, the object would be accomplished ; for the Maoris were a sympathetic people and eailsy influenced. At the same time there must be firmness. They must be told where they were wrong ; and if they knew that when they become hard up through their own thrifllessness and through wanton dissipation of their means, no s/mpathy of help need be expected, a better state of thing 3 would be brought about. The Premier proceeded to defend the Native land policy of Vie Government from the charge that it would retard settlement.