The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1891

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2931, 28 April 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1891

Equal aiul exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever stute or persuasion, religious or political.

It is with the greatest diffidence and some reluctanco that we interfere in the slightest degioe with the discussion of the Miuistry in carrying out their policy of retrenchment, but thore is ouo case that calls for comment at our hands, in tho iirst place, because we think an error has been committed, and iii tho second, bacau.se it is our duty to express public opinion whenever wo believe that opinion noarly approaches unanimity. Wo should have remaiued silent hail the first reason been tho only incentive to action. INo newspaper, however, can consistently refuso to act upon the second, otherwise the reason for its existence would have ceased to exist. In obedience therefore to tho power wo are bound to respect -.-public: opinion,—wo point out to tho Ministry that in our opinion, and in that of a vast majority oi' those capable oC judging that it would be a grave error to dispense with tho services of Major Mair as Judge of tho Native Lauds Court. That gentleman has the confidence oE the natives as lie has that of the Europeans who have come in contact with liiin in his official position. His thorough knowledge of the language and customs of the natives combined with no mean capacity to weigh evidence peculiarly fit him for tho position he holds. Many of tho appointments to tho Native Lands Court have been palpable attempts to fit square pogs into round holes, a process which to bo successful requires considerable pairing down of edges, in other words, many of those appointod roquirod a lengthy education by those versed in Maori customs and history before they could in any sense be deemed fit for their now position and duties. The result of theso appointments has been to appreciably increase the reluctance of th« natives to have any dealiugs with tho Court, and that of Europeans to having any with the natives through its agency. Judge Mair during his somewhat lengthened tenure of his position has, as we stated above, secured tho confidence of both races ; there can be no surer proof of a man's fitness for the position. We trust that the M'nistry will reconsider their decision in his case and rotain his services, we urgo this because we believe that his dismissal will be detrimental to the interests of the Colony. As we pointed out above, wo have been very loth to interfere iii this matter, and we trust that the reasons wo have given will be taken as those only which have, actuated us. /!