THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1907. UNCONSCIONABLE!

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8985, 21 November 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1907. UNCONSCIONABLE!

"Scandalous" is almost a mild term to apply to the action of the Government in bringing down its Native Land Bill in the closing hours of the s:ssion, and endeavouring to force it through a wearied and spiritless House. The second reading of the Bill, which is perhaps the most "important of all the policy measures introduced this session, was moved by the Native Minister on Tuesday, some three or four days before the proposed prorogation of Parliament, and members were not even afforded time to master its contents. Even the leader of the Opposition was obliged to speak to the motion largely in the dark as to the proposals contained in the bill, as he had not had an opportunity to closely study j them. During the all-night debate the Government came in for severe castigation respecting its attitude,but the Premier,who recently professed to be unable to prevent half-a-dozen of his followers from blocking the Meikle Acquittal Hill, which was intended as an act of justice, had little difficulty in getting all his party to rally round him in his mad determination to rush through the House without due consideration a bill which may be fraught with serious consequences to the whole dominion. It is true, as the Premier remarked, the settlement of the native laud question is one in which expedition is demanded, but knowing this it was the duty of the Government to have brought down its bill dealing with the subject at a reasonably early period of the session; and this could easily have been done had the head of the Government thought fit to so order it. It is admitted on all hands that the past native land legislation has only resulted in confusion and that a new and comprehensive land policy is essential to the interests of European and native land settlement. This being so, it became all the more necessary that the whole question should be dealt with dispassionately and leisurely, in order that the I serious mistakes of the past may 1 be rectified. How can this be looked I for under the present conditions?

It is hopeless to expect it. Far better now to postpone the subject until next session; but it is hopeless to expect this also, in view of the stand taken by the Government. The bill will not satisfy the' freeholders of the dominion, and, if we can take native authorities as a guide,

it will cause a howl of dismay throughout Maoridom. How is a Government, which acts in the way this Government does,Jto be adequately characterised?