The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1882. THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 1 June 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1882. THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

The Opposition objects to the law •being strained to meet the practical difficulty which lias arisen m dealing with Te Whiti and Tohu. If we felt sure that the vindication of the law and a loyal obedience to it was the animating impulse which led Mr Montgomery and his followers to traverse the action of the : Government, we should be disposed to take sides with them, and say whatever be the consequence let Te Whiti's offence be .tried, without resort to' special or post facto

Legislation. But when we see the Opposition straining at gnats and swallowing camels we can but come to the conclusion that their courses are dictated by a sense of expediency more than by an exalted sentiment of principle. An Opposition member, for example, went a little further than straining the law—he broke it, Does the Opposition denounce him for his fault? No I They say he was not to blame; it was tlie laiv which was at fault. The Jonah to be thrown overboard is not the member for Stanmore, but the unfortunate law which he broke, From force of circumstances in New Zealand the Natives for many years have had to be dealt with in an exceptional manner, and if tliereis any public question on which a departure from the striot interpretation of_ our laws can be excused, it is when it becomes necessary to secure the public safety from being affected by fanatical and turbulent Maories, The Native Minister in New Zealand has, in consideration of the special difhculties of his position, always been allowed a greater latitude than any other member of the Cabinet, and has taken up the position of a personal ruler. Sir Donald McLean, Mr Sheehan, and Sir John Beyce havp each one in his turn been allowed to manage the Maories as each one ; thought best. When Mr Sheehan failed in tho task which he undertook it became necessary to find another man to take his place—that mail was found in the person of John Bkyce, and, as far as it is possible to judge, John Bryce has proved himself to be the right man in the right place—the only man in the colony capable of dealing with Native difficulties. So long as he is successful in the discharge of his duties as Native Jffjnjgtef it would be the height of folly

dycibt that Sir DonXld McLean, Mr Sheehan-and* Sir John Bryoe have frequently committed,.themselves to courses which were practically necessary, but theoretically indefensible, Everybody knows that Sir Joiin Bryoe is distinguished as much by his integrity as by his intrepidity, and ; the members of the House as Well as the General public know that the colony runs very littlo risk by leaving unfettered in his hands the administration of Native affairs, We trust for some years to come Sir John Buyce, what ever Ministry may be in power, will continue at the head of the Native Department, and that when he is relieved from that post he will resign it to take the position of Premier of the colony. There is no member of the House of Representatives who \s so .well fitted to hold the highest office in the State as tlio present Native Minister, On the particular question now before the House, the Government is sure of an overwhelming majority,