THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY –

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 310, 6 April 1878, Page 4

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY -

HOW TO SETTLE IT. Ti-iE Lay of Plenty Times iu an article oii t'iv,; expected meeting between Sir Of. y and Tawhiao, and the establishment of an “ imkat'” line, which it * .id t“ v a rumoured was under discussion .■iy 0: ve; ••njcnt, refers to Various plans wxic:; h..vc at different times been adopted to bring about a better understanding between Europeans and Maoris, and to suggestions which have been made, and concluding that all are futile, and that some of the proposed plans would likely lead to bloodshed, proceeds to say;—“ There is, however, another plan, which has always been possible —a plan which ought to have been adopted from the outset of the Icing movement. It is precisely that policy which Mark Lemon adopted towards a critic who had savagely attacked him in one of the newspapers :—“ What do you intend to do,” asked a friend, “ Of course you will gi >c him a it eland for his Oliver.” “ Noreplied the wit, “ I intend to let him alone—most severely.” The best native policy would be one which would treat the tatterdemalion, Tawhiao, and In's score or two of breechless • ’.grants, with the contempt of silent inr;’Terence. The groat army of Martyrs, the Commissioners, the Native Assessors, the astute Te Wheoro’s, and the tribe of “ go-betweens” generally should receive their walking tickets, and be convened from drones into useful members of the social hive, while Tawhiao and his ragged horde should be left to dream on iu their fancied royalty until they withered beneath the chilling blight of neglect and indifference. Shorn of that importance which kingism derives from the obsequious, degrading recognition and flattery of Europeans, the absurdity would lose all its charms, and the farce would soon be played out. Only let the two things go hand-in-hand. Without any overt act of hostility, cut off all those supplies of iiour and sugar, grog, side-saddles, blankets, and jews-harps, which even the mast economical and reformatory Government finds a necessary adjunct of its periodical hob-nobbiugs with a barbarian king, stop the salaries, allowances, and little pickings, which indirectly maintain his influence, treat him and his myrmidons with contemptuous indifference, and in a very short time our respective positions would alter, and he would become the supplicant. The prolongation of this state farce, this burlesque upon our boasted civilization and superior education is degrading, not to say expensive, and the sooner the curtain falls upon it the better for all parties. If innate snobbery will not be satisfied with less than the occasional sight of a real live king, albeit in a greasy blanket and peacock feathers, let us import one from abroad, and keep him in a glass case for periodical exhibition. The plan would be economical, ami devoid of danger, and would serve our turn equally well.