The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, SEP. 1, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2519, 1 September 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, SEP. 1, 1888.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Tiie Parliament of New Zealand was prorogued yesterday by proclamation in the Gazette till the Gth December. The session just terminated has been one of the most, if not the most, discreditable that has ever met in this colony since the Gonstiution conferred upon its people the right of free, representative institutions. Great evils had fallen upon the country ; they were no doubt the natural consequences of the deliberate acts of the people themselves, and to which, they had committed themselves in the height of deluded folly. The day of awakening to a true sense of the course that was being pursued came at last, and the country, metaphorically, turned

over a new leaf. That is to say tho bulk of the people did so, an< at tho last elections they, in th most emphatic manner possibl under a constitutional regime, de clared against the continuation of i policy of borrowing and taxation rejected the unpopular Ministry tha put forward proposals of that nature aud elected a Parliament on mos defined and clear lines. The man date of the constituencies was si unmistakeablc in tone and temper that the whole colony breathec more freely than it ha< done for many years. Tin strongest hopes were centred ii the new House, amongst the per sound of which were men who hac gained some political reputation of i favourable character, and who wen regarded as being able to form e strong party to carry through tin Legislature the many much needec reforms, both economical and ad ministrative. During the early stag) of the session the House gav< indications of realising public expec tations, but unfortunately it wa: not long before it became painfull} apparent that there were no orga nised parties in the Chamber, nc leaders or statesmanship, and wliai publiced spirit members, 011 tin whole, had boasted they possessec soon evaporated into thin,iminateria air. We all know what followed The proceedings of Parliament hac been more closely watched with ar amount of interest than has bifchertc been customary to bestow upoi: them. Election pledges have beer thrown to the winds; there has been nothing approximating to the wishes of the people ir respect to retrenchment, financia reform and settlement. The ver) policy condemned in its entirety al the elections.was introduced by the Pr dinier and adopted by a recreant tnd servile House. The Parliament }f New Zealand has become a re proach to all beholders, at home ant' ibroad. Whilst the country has expressed its detestation of fuithei jcncral or local borrowings ol foreign money for public expenditure, we have had the spectacle if the Premier of the colony [jleudiug to the Legislature tc jonfer additional powers upon il ready impecunious Harbout Boards to enable them to raise large oans in order to pay interest or leavy debts, and tide over a year 01 ;wo longer of dubious existence. Here was an attempt to perpetuate ;hos« corrupt principles which have 10 covered this country with fear :ul political ills. There are signs ;hat trade and industries through >ut the British dominions are imProving. We trust and pi-ay this :olony may share in the generai jood fortune. If it does so, we ihall be most agreeably disnpjointed, for so many difficulties have )een raised by the past sessior igainst th:; revival of confidence and -rust amongst the people, that no hing but a special dispensation oi Providence during the recess can ave the revenue from a serious de icit next year, or reconcile the counry to the taxation and hardships il las still to face. Duk Whutawhata correspondent Iraws attention to the distressing :ondition of the native population n that locality. There appears tc lave been serious ravages amongst hem lately by typhoid fever, and as he correspondent informs us they .re " dying off like rotten sheep.' ■Vlint makes the case of these Maori >eople a peculiarly painful one is hat they are entirely without help n their misfortunes ; the settlers in he district being either unabh o give them assistance, 01 allous to the fate that is rapidly ivertaking tlinin. The native. l .re living in great poverty, 11 squalid wharcs, and wholly ignornt of any knowledge of sanitary precautions or the treatment of even imple ailments. Although the Vhatavvhata natives in times past njoyed the benefits, for the time ioing, of missionary teachings that ended to inculcate into them some Jaas of the improvements oi ivilisation, all has been so much ibour and energy lost, for with 11 the evidences around them f European superiority and omforts of life, they are proably in a worse condition than hey were in their untutored avagedom. As a people they are, o doubt, fatalists, and feeling that he extinction of their race is foreoomecl and only a question of time, liey will not make the slightest (fort to throw oft' the torpor o which they have abandoned themslves. Admitting that to be the ase, it is nevertheless an inexcusble reproach upon us as a generous nd superior race, or on our

iu inanity to look upon these mfortunate people perishing before >ur eyes without exerting ourselves o avert their sufferings. If the Maoris must decay and ceaso tc ixist, we should at least endeavour

irofessionally the native inhabiants at the various settlements for . fixed annual subsidy. This practice was, however, discontinued, and inwisely. In our opinion, which is trengthened by the present deathate at Whatawhata, the uent should be resumed, if only in he cause of common humanity. (Vo believe that Dr. Murch, of Hamilton, who is Medical Officer or the Railway Employees .Benefit Society, would be prepared to enter nto an agreement similar to the one

■> we have referred to, in which case J the Government should secuie his e services, and give the aid so much 6 needed by these impoverished and " stricken natives.