MORE NATIVE POLICY.

Patea Mail, 24 August 1880, Page 2

MORE NATIVE POLICY.

Kemble Bend is allowed to come into European settlements. Officials wink at past crimes now-a-days, and have a notion that winking is the proper plan for making things pleasant all round. lor example, a son-in-law of Hone Piama has got himself taken into custody for joining the fencers. The chief applies to the Commissioner to have him set at liberty, and the Commissioner (as we arc informed) says, “ Oh yes, I’Jl write to Wellington and get him sent back.” If fencing be a crime, why not treat all prisoners alike for that crime ? If not a crime, why take them at all ? This playing fast and loose with the law of the Empire is a kind of over-wise folly which must operate to destroy all respect for law, botli among Maoris and Europeans. Some of our legislators who do these things require a larger education in politicsSubordinate officers arc being demoralised b} r the bad example of their chiefs. Kemble Bond should cither be formally pardoned, or bo tried on the old charge. To allow him to mix with colonists without pardon and without trial is a sure moans of destroying public respect for the law. Bend has not been at Paribaka, as was erroneously stated. Our informant had met him in returning from a visit to Paribaka, and was wrongly understood as having met him there. We do not see why this man should now be potted because he happens 1o bo notorious.