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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 25, 28 July 1864, Page 2

Vm debate, cm 28th April, in too House rf Commons, relative to the way in New Bealsmd, and more especially to the Aota passed some montha ago "by $10 General Afcaembly, embodying what ig kncwn as fche " Confiscation Policy," shows clearly bow little the .pseßent difßoulty of the Colonists is really understood by those who profess to have made the subject fcheir study 5 and how small a share, both of intelligence and humanity, t New Zea* land legi^ators are credited with. It is no new feature for home philanthropists to assume a degree of knowledge on colonial affairs very much greater 'than they possess ; nor is ; it new- for them to wrest the plain meaning of words and actg, in order to meet'their own peculiar Views/ Our colonists: are pretty well accustomed by tin's time to abuse and misrepresentation at tlxe hands of these gentlemen ; but in the debate to which we are' alluding, language' was>used^and sentiments expressed which' must be peculiarly gallingto those who, by awiseand far-seeing policy, have endeavored to put a periqd to the present disastrous war. Mr. AMills rose to move an " address for copy of all correspondence that had taken place between Sir G-eoegb Gtbex and the Colonial Office, relating to the policy of confiscation which had been adopted by by the New Zealand Legislature." "We cannot follow him throughout the course of his remarks; suffice it to say, that he constituted himself the champion _of the Maories, and denounced the action taken by the G-eneral Assembly as certain to result in a war of extermination, inasmuch as, were the confiscation carried put, the natives would be " dared to fight for their hearths and homes ;"•• and he finished by saying that such a policy must be ruinous, both to Imperial and Colonial interests. Mr. Bxrxxosr seconded the motion, and went, if possible, further'than the mover. The treaty of "VVaitangi had been broken ; the King movement' could not be considered as treason ; the massacre of the escort was stripped of half its atrocity; and the policy which the Assembly had, after due deliberation, adopted as the only one calculated to save the Colony, was stigmatised as a "damn'd nigger" policy. In other words, the honorable gentleman insinuated that the object of the Assembly was to extirpate a race which stood in the way of European civilization. Other members expressed themselves in equally strong terms : and even Mr. Cakdwell, whilst admitting that vigorous measures were necessary, and that the G-overnment were not prepared to disallow the obnoxious Acts, so qualified his remarks that his defence was little better than an attack. Our readers are aware that, in his despatch to Sir G-EOBGB G-eey, the Secretary of State for the Colonies had already expressed at great length the same views he enunciated in the House of Commons. The " Confiscation Policy " as intended by the Assembly, is not to be carried out. • So great difficulties have been thrown in the way, and so many restrictions and j provisoes insisted on, that the Acts are | rendered nearly useless. The G-eneral Assembly will again have to deal with the question, and it remains to be seen ' whether it will adhere to its original determination, or suffer itself, on a matter of such vast importance to the Colony, and so well understood by the Colonists, to be dictated to by the Home Government. "We trust it will adopt the former course. It must never be forgotten that it was not at the request of the Colonists that the guidance of native affairs fell into their hands. Such is by no means the case. On this point we quote from a well- written article which appeared in the Argus : — Through the neglect of the Imperial Government, and the blunders of its officers, an enormous territory was suffered to remain in the hands of its nominal native proprietors, until, through the increase of the European settlers, the lands at the disposal of the state were no longer sufficient to meet the demands of the colonists. The more urgent were these demands, the more extortionate became the Maori owners, until at ; last, feom mingled jealousy .of the European, and a newly-awakened sentiment of patriotism, the Maories formed themselves into a league, to prevent : more lands being sold. At this very time, the Imperial Government chose, against the wishes of the colonists, to divest themselves of the right of. controlling native affairs. The colonists were told that, inasmuch ss they had been fully endowed with the j privileges of self-government, they must take into. | their own hands the responsibility;, of dealing with the natives. . Now, on the very first occasion on which they exercise to any very great extent the right this responsibility gives them — to the extent, in short, of dealing with the matter in a- comprehensive manner, they are met at the outset with the old philo.-Maori humbug, of which we have heard so much. Independent members go in heavily for sentimentalism, and the. head of the Colonial Office gives a[ feeble assent to the theory of Confiscation/ Tvdhile lie reduces it in. practace^almost-tq^a fiction. -■■'■■! ;.'.<>l^ l M \