The Westport Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1872.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1015, 22 October 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1872.

As thera are some subjects upon which must be admitted that either political party is equally capable of ;akiug beneficial action, and therefore that, so far as subjects are concerned, it should be thoso who act mott promptly to whom support should be accorded ; so also it seems as if there %vere some things upon which neither party could act wisely, and it is therefore those who do nothing who are most to bo commended. Abstinence from intorferenco is frequently a far greater virtue in a legislator than the most eager pursuit of reform, inasmuch as interfeience and real reform are, more particularly in colonial politics, by no means synonymous. Principal among such questions in New Zealand is that of the Maoris, and it seems as

every one of our leaders who attempted to doal with the insuppressiblo native, forthwith became bombastic in sentiment, and farcical in

action. Tlio last display in thia direction was that which Mr Waterhouse stated to have been his first ministerial action, namely, the elevation of the Maori to the Legislative Council. In this particular the Premier did but carry out the declared intention of his predecessor, who was however prevented apparently by more pressing business from being the one to add tliis further instance to the couutless sum of those ministerial follies which are to be found in the records of successive governments, so often giviii" to our House of Assembly the appearance of a theatre where the most ridiculous of burlesques are enacted, rather than a solemn council chamber in which are assembled the representatives of a future nation, earnestly seeking after advancement and "eform. It is contended that the Maoris are fellow subjects, living under tbe same laws with us, and paying the same taxes, and therefore that with a view to their further enlightenment we ought to show them the little favor of putting up with their absurdities in our Legislature. On the other hand it must be replied, first of all, that they do not pay equal taxes with the Europeans. So far as indirect taxation is concerned they certainly cannot more securely purchase cheap liquor than their white fellow subjets, and, directly, the stamp duties apply equally to them and to us. But session after session schemes have been suggested for subjecting their lands to rates in the same way that the other lands of the colony are, but have been abandoned, partly on the ground that it was not feasible even in the case of native lands held under crown grant, and partly because it was alleged that a large portion of their lands were not held from the crown at all. One would suppose that with all but the most confirmed philo-maoris such an argument would be refuted by the 'simple fact that for grantees" who were too independent to pay their fair contribution for their privileges as subjects, and certainly for those who were too distrustful to become grantees, no claim whatever could be maintained for their becoming fellowlegislators. It seems, however, as if the very fact of the restless natives throwing difficulties in the way of the white colonist entitled him in the eyes of some to great additional privileges. He is allowed to be an elector without having qualified himself as such in the ordinary manner. He has constituencies given him overrunning in a kind of duplicate form the European constituencies, and can vote both in these and, if qualified, as a European. He can with impunity disregard most of the European laws, and on occasions oveu commit murder without being punished. He is now even raised to that high legislative body, which is supposed to consist solely of those who have done, good service to the crown, and who are entitled to a life, long position amongst our lawmakers, untouched by the chances of political change. How the colonists of the North Island submit so calmly to such absurdities we can scarcely: divine. We are no parties to the proposals to force the Maori to become in all respects our fellow-subjects, to compel him to hold his laud from the crown, or not at all, to the exaction of rates or confiscation of the land, to rushing into disturbance and war because two tribes are pleased to quarrel. But we do object strongly to the Maori obtaining our privileges when he does not submit to the same restraints • to his having a voice in the making of laws, and overthrow of Governments, so long as he is, if he chooses, himself free to defy those laws and governments. To go beyond this and make him our superior appears a policy cringing and contemptible almost beyond word?, and above all a great fall from the traditional character of the Anglo-Saxon.