The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Ressurexi. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1884.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4885, 5 September 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Ressurexi. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1884.

A yebt instructive return was furnished to Parliament this week on the motion of Mr Moss, and its tendency is to prove that notwithstanding the very large amount of good done of late years in connection with native affairs, there yet remains a large field for an able administrator to do useful and profitable work. Mr Bryce's handling of the department has reflected little discredit on his reign, and we cannot but express the hope that similar success will atteDd the efforts of his follower. This native question has been made a " bugbear " by many governments, and when occasions have required, it has been used for all sorts of purposes. It is about time that an end should be put to this sort of thing, and the attendant waste of public money. A most expensive department with a host of well-paid officers, and a small standing army in the way of Constabulary, are the result of the past maladministration of this department. The interested legislation which has been indulged in in connection with it, the base and corrupt practices followed and legalised in the past; the wholesale robbery of landß from the natives and the colony— frequently perpetrated by members of the Legislature—have sought the countenance ,of Parliament, and required and obtained sanction at the hands of the people's repre* sentatives, and hence the native department has been necessary for tke benefit of those who took a wholesome, perhaps; liTely, no doubt; but personal, certainly; interest in dealing with the lands of the ! colony. We long for the appearance of a Hercules to cleanse this Augean •table. We almost languish in the despair arising from the thought that there is only a faint hope of the appearance of this wished-for one. The new Native Minister has had a good example giren him, and he can do well by following up—progressing as times and circumstances warrant — the policy laid down by his predecessor. The backbone of the native difficulty was broken by ,Mr Bryce, and careful administration of the office will now do away with the thing altogether.' We sincerely hope that Mr Ballance will not approach the mole-hill as though it were a mountain, but boldly and effectually put his foot on any puny obstructions that may b9 made by discontented Maoris to the progress of the colony and its welfare.