POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 152, 23 December 1911, Page 6

POLITICAL.

the young maoiu party. The Maori member is a much more important gentleman in the present Parliament that he has been for many a year pa:-t. lie. iu conjunction with Labor, is in the position of being able, to make or ruin ihe party. It is fortunate, therefore, that the men in whose hands such powers temporarily lie are men of judgment, and education, whose mental equipment is at least not inferior to that of the average European member. The intelligence, and culture of the little band of members of the Young Maori party who now represent the four Maori districts distinguish them as men who would more than hold their own in purely Hitropean communities. Three of them hold University degrees, and have attained some honor ill their professions, and the third, though not a University man, has had a business training and possesses a special knowledge of native land laws and Native Department procedure. Very different these native M.P.'s to seme of the Maori members of the old regime whom we can recollect; men who though intelligent enough were useless in Parliament through their narrowed vision, their tribal traditions, their racial conservatism, and their ignorance of the English tongue. Xow we have for the first time Maori members who have their European side, who can enter into debate upon any subject that engages the attention of and whose interests are not confined to Maori laws. Mr. Xgata and Dr. Buck we already know in Parliament as eloquent advocates of Maori rights, and Mr. Xgata lias held, in addition to his native duties in the Executive. the superintendence of an important Stale department. Dr. I'omare anil Mr. Charles l'arata have yet to prove their abilitv as debaters, but both are naturally gifted, like most men of native blood, with fluent tongues and facility of expression that many of our white M.P.'s lack. Dr. Pomare is peculiarly well fitted for his position. For years he has travelled tip and down the eountrv visiting and healing the sick, coaxing t'lie consprvative old people out of their insanitary shells, improving the dwellings and general mode of life of the natives, and giving wise counsel to anfi-pakeha agitators. As (lovernment Health Officer he has come to know the hearts of the people; as M.P. he will be ih a position to voice their troubles and their aspirations. —Wellington Times. : ' :

Sir John KindlaV ■'fl'sfs'' described as a "dangerous man," aiidHhft'frfbe gave him his opoprtimity for''tin ''effective retort when lie was seMirig l lite face towards Wellington again. -'4-am dangerous," lie said, "because of the policy 1 have been trying to submitaudience of Parnell. lam dangerous, 'as [ stand opposed to land monopoly and all other monopoly.

. . . . And now that I have nrv freedom, and am njjclpnger under any obligation to any-Cabinet. I promise my opponents that,.. I shall grow not less dangerous but .more dangerous." • J . [|■ 1 r,i; i ■ i °