South Canterbury Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2210, 17 April 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1880.

Arj’KU a good deal of whispering and unnecessary secrecy,the cloud of mystery that has surrounded the interim report of the Native commission lias been lifted. The report has the merit of dealing in a plain concise manner with the diiliculty that has attended past attempts to open up for settlement the confiscated areas. The Commissioners, after alluding to the large extent and valuable nature of the land, frankly admit that for years the more turbulent of the West Coast Natives have been determined to resist the occupation of the plains. But this statement is only the mild prefix to a somewhat heavy bill of indictment brought against the late Government, and especially the late Native Minister. The Commissioners allege that the resident natives, instead of opposing the survey and settlement of the plains, would have readily acquiesced, had the Government of the day exhibited a disposition to keep faith with the' promises made by Sir Donald McLean and other Ministerial representatives respecting Native reserves. The difficulty, according to the Commissioners, arose solely through the late Government attempting to occupy the plains, before reserves were surveyed for the resident natives, or any guarantee was given that “ their settlements, fishing stations, burial places and cultivations would be respected.” In other words, the natives had not sufficient confidence in the integrity of the late Ministry to rely on general promises, and wo do not blame them. On the contrary, these Maories —if the facts arc as represented by the Commissioners —must be credited with a good deal of shrewdness, and a keen perception of the frailties of colonial governments Avlien they insisted upon performances in preference to vague and merely verbal assurances. If tins interim report correctly represents the causes of the obstruction to the settlement of the Waimatc Plains, then the resident natives were perfectly justified in the course they adopted. In insisting upon their reserves being granted, and the promises made by the successive administrations carried out, they were simply exercising a wise precaution. The Government stood in want of money, and as an expedient, the immediate sale of the Waimatc Plains was arranged. The resident natives, seeing the risk they ran of being driven to the wall by the white invader, insisted upon the promises of provision being made for them, being carried out before tranquilly yielding up the land. There is no doubt, if this view of the matter is the right one, that the late Government was in the wrong, and the natives were to a great extent justified in resisting an act of wanton agression. Of course, the representations of a Commission composed of gentlemen politically hostile to the late Government must bo accepted with reservation, hut their report contains a statement of facts, which unless satisfactorily disproved, must condemn, in the estimation of every right thinking individual, the Native policy of the late Ministry, It would, however, ho premature to say too much on this subject, for it is a matter that will no doubt be fully do-

bated by the members of the Government, whose character is assailed. It is one of these things that the members of the late Ministry will have to deal with, and explain away satisfactorily, before they can hope to enjoy the confidence of the country. The very weakness of the Maorics, and the fact that up to the time of the attempted survey of the Waimate Plains, they had displayed a most friendly disposition towards the Government, renders any wanton act of aggression—any exhibition of sharp practice—the more indefensible. We question if anything of a morc damaging nature regarding the late administration, lias yet come to light, than is contained in the report of this Royal Commission.

Some time ago wc advocated the establishment of farmers’ clubs in New Zealand, with tiro object of conserving the interests of the agricultural community. Circumstances have since arisen that tend to show the urgent nccessitj" that exists for the establishment of these institutions. Pleuropneumonia, the most serious form of cattle plague ever known in these southern latitudes, is raging in the North Island, and despite every precaution, it is spreading rapidly. That it will (ravel down south is tolerably certain, and farmers and graziers may safely anticipate a serious reduction in the value and number of their herds. When the disease was first suspected at Auckland we pointed out the advisability of prompt and certain moans being taken to eradicate it. Rut the Cattle Boards of the north adopted a supine attitude and while they were haggling with the Government, and 1 heir inspectors were gravely debating the nature of the cattle-sickness, the plague took a firm hold on the soil. Now that it has established itself, the consequences will no doubt he felt throughout the length and breadth of the Colony. For pleuropneumonia is no ordinary form of contagion. Its virulent seeds are wafted in the wind, and carried far and wide by the rivers, streams, and water-courses, where the infected cattle arc depastured. We contended at the time when the news was first telegraphed that the preservation of the stock of the colony demanded immediate measures ; that once the disease was established, no amount of precaution would prevent its ravages; and that the destruction of the suspected animals was the only remedy. Had such institutions as farmers’ clubs been in existence, this warning, wc have no doubt, would have found still more powerful expression, and coming from interested quarters, the requisite steps would have been urged upon the Government and the Auckland Cattle Boards. But our farmers and graziers having no representative body to appeal to, have been eficctnally gagged and muzzled at the critical moment when their interests were being trilled with. It is true that the committee of the South Cante.hur} r Pastoral and Agricultural Association passed a resolution during the week expressing concern at the introduction of the cattle plague to the colony, hut wc are afraid their remonstrance has found utterance too late to have the slightest effect for good or evil. What onr settlers want are Clubs where they can meet at short intervals and discuss matters whether it he the outbreak of diseases in crops and stocks, or the best means of realising advantageously on their produce.

Siu Wi f.liam Fox is as irrepressible as an old war horse. The Member for Rangitikei—Major Willis—lias consented to make way for him, and Sir William is once more at his old game, besieging a constituency. Rejected oft but never dejected is evidently the motto of this old political veteran. In his ease the love of political warfare has attained the proportions of a mild insanity. A few years ago, having been dethroned from the premiership, lie indignantly severed his connection with political life in New Zealand, vowed he would never take olllce again, voluntarily went into exile, and, like a well-known Dunedin dentist, made a. pilgrimage to America. But the pilgrimage finished, he forgot his intentions, emerged from his privacy once more, and reappeared in Wellington in the capacity of a would-bc-Ministcr of the Crown. Notwithstanding a tour of the platforms and churches of the colony, presumably in the interests of a United Temperance Alliance hut really to clear the way for another dash at the Treasury benches, Sir William, at the last general election was unfortunate enough to be squeezed out of Parliament by a junior competitor. Since then be lias been panting like a iish out of water to get back to bis old element, but until Major Willis came to the rescue, no one has been compassionate enough to make way for the old gentleman. As Major Willis lias been so generous it would almost be a pity to attempt to deprive the irrepressible and much rejected Sir William of the scat that lias been kept warm for him. In a House of Representatives composed like the present, his presence is not likely to do much harm or good, and if the credit of representing llangitikei—a district with which he has long been associated—can afford any enjoyment to suck a severely worn out and faded political renegade, wo trust that hopeless though his ease may he as regards future usefulness, the electors will be compassionate, and refrain from dashing cold water on Ids ardent spirits.