POLITICAL.

Southland Times, Issue 962, 3 June 1868, Page 3

POLITICAL.

The recent telegraphic intelligence from "Wellington is of a very unsatisfactory character. The resumption by the Maories of hostile action supplies matter for serious reflection. It goes to show that the desire for peace expressed by most of the fighting chiefs were hollow, that it is the nature of the race to sue for terms when hunger and want forces them to it, but their idea of peace is not in seeking to cultivate friendly relations with the European settler, and contentedly pursuing industrial avocations. It means nothing more than the exercise of a cunning propensity to sham sincerity in order to gain time for the purpose of planting crops, and placing themselves in a state of efficiency for a renewal of hostilities. The records of the past history of New Zealand proves that this policy is not adopted for a solitary occasion, but is a controlling instinct of the savage mind. How often have we heard the Governor and his Ministers, on the opening of a new ..session of the General Assembly, congratulate the people upon the termination of a war that has been ruinously costly, destructive of life, and of long duration — a war that has immersed the colony in a sea of debt that years of retrenchment and heavy taxation will scarcely suffice to extricate it from. Session after session the Assembly is asked to vote money and grant increased borrowing powers on the ground that the expenses attending the native difficulty had exceeded former estimates. Thus, year after year, new loans have been floated, and fresh taxes imposed, for no other purpose than to suppress a native rebellion that might hare been long since stamped out, had vigorous action been taken, and a definite policy maintained. But what has been really done ? After nearly a score of years •of vaccilating operations and lavish .expenditure, the Maories are not -conquered, and the colony is burdened with a debt of seven millions — a debt, the interest of which goes far to exhaust the ordinary revenue, and cripples the power of the Government to carry out -fully the higher objects of colonisation — internal communication, and constantly expanding settlement.

For Borne time past, the belief that this vexatious war had at length been finally extinguished induced a feeling of •partial contentment that led the public . to bear with the heavy taxation imposed, in the hope that a reform of the governmental machinery would lead to a reduction in the expenditure, and consequently a gradual lessening of taxation. This last intimation that the Maories are again in arms reopens the old sore between the colonists of the Middle and the North Islands. A large portion of the southern colonists are favorable to the - idea of Centralism. That is, they desire to see New Zealand a prosperous and undivided colony with equitable local Belf-government. But at the same time they will not quietly agree to continual increase in taxation for the purpose of perpetuating the war expenditure that has been so extravagant and useless. If the governing powers still "persist"" in the insipid policy so long practised, of treating the rebels with . • a leniency approaching almost to an in- ' ducement to continue in rebellion, the agitation for Separation will be again !'. revived. It is acknowledged that this - colony is the heaviest taxed in the . : British dominions. From Mr Staffobd to the least conspicuous of New Zealand \ politicians, it is agreed that a reduction •- is demanded. How can such a reduction *" be made if the native expenditure is still . increased? The first step is to de- ' terminedly crush the rebellion for so long as the conduct of the Government

towards the Maori ia.-e embraces sentimental conferences, and insincere threateniugs, so long will the native difficulty continue to drain the treasury, and impoverish the colonists. Al the assurances that have been given by sui-cL-ssivo governments for the last live years have been such as to induce a belief that no effort would be spared to prove to the rebels that speedy and certain punishment awaited them. When the last three million loan was sanctioned by the Assembly it was upon the understanding that further war expenses would not be required ; that the confiscation of the rebels' lands would be strictly carried out ; the unflinching punishment of the captured offenders rigorously enforced ; the confiscated lands sold ; and the proceeds appropriated towards defraying the war expenditure. How have these pledges been redeemed? No land has been sold, and a portion of the Maori prisoners who wera taken during the last war, after a few months confinement on a beautiful island, were permitted to return to their old localities again to plot and organise fresh schemes for murder, rapine, and plunder.

The Assembly in a few weeks will be in session, and the Native question will once more demand consideration. It is known that, notwithstanding the retrenchment policy of the Staffoed Ministry, a very considerable deficiency (£60,000) upon the estimated Customs' revenue will be shown, and already intimations have been given that an income tax is contemplated. It is to be hoped that no proposal for additional taxation will be entertained by the members of the Assembly until some guarantee is given that all future war costs shall be levied on the Maories by the Government. It has become absolutely imperative, in order to secure the union of the whole of New Zealand, that this question should be finally settled. The South is not anxious to separate from the North, but she does feel that if the partnersnip is to be continued, more equitable arrangements should be made.