From the Fiji Times, November 23, 1900.

Sir,—The Governor took advantage of the large gathering of natives and others recently collected by him, ostensibly page 8 to celebrate the opening of the Wainibokasi Hospital, to address to the assembled chiefs and people a speech of a highly inflammatory character; in which his Excellency accused the Government of New Zealand of intending, should it obtain control of Fiji, to deprive the Fijians of their laud and give it to white men.

That, the Governor of Fiji told the Fijian chiefs, was how the Government of New Zealand had treated the Maoris—the aboriginal inhabitants of that country—and that is how it would treat the Fijians, if Fiji should federate with New Zealand, or in any way come under her control. One must unhesitatingly condemn this speech as being mischievous in intention, and as deplorable in the results likely to flow from it.

A protest must be entered against such statements from the lips of the Governor of this colony because they are unsustainable in point of fact; are an unjust accusation against the Government of a neighbouring British colony: and are calculated to cause embarrassment to that Government in its dealings with the natives of those islands which, with the sanction of the imperial Government, are on the point of being placed under the administration of New Zealand. The Government of New Zealand has—so says the Governor of Fiji—deprived the Maoris of their lands so that they are now cooped up within a small area, and, so that many of them now have no land at all. That statement has been demonstrated by Dr. Purdy of New Zealand to be "utterly untrue," and an "insult" to that colony.

The words of the Governor of Fiji, spoken as a warning to the natives of Fiji, lest they should consent to come under the dominion of New Zealand, will sink into the ears of the natives of the Cook Islands, and fill them with dread and fear, and distrust of the Government of New Zealand; for has not the Governor of Fiji told the chiefs of that country that the Government of New Zealand wants to federate with Fiji, in order that it may get the opportunity to deprive the Fijians of their lands and give them to white men. That is "what happened in New Zealand" says the Governor of Fiji. "and that is what will happen here also if New Zealand gets Fiji."

Anything more calculated to inflame the native mind against the white people of this colony, and of New Zealand, and to lead to a disturbance of those relations which have page 9 hitherto so happily existed between whites and natives of Fiji, cannot be conceived. The Fijian hits an extraordinary attachment to his land. To impress upon him that the white people who support Federation, do so in the hope that thereby they may be able to deprive him of that land, is to create a feeling in his mind which constitutes a distinct and grave danger to the white community, and throws a most serious responsibility upon the Governor, whose first duty is to keep the peace and foster good feeling between all Her Majesty's subjects in Fiji. His Excellency apparently realized the dangerous nature of the demon he was summoning to oppose the closer union of two British colonies in the Pacific, for, at the conclusion of his speech, he, having addressed them in a manner calculated to arouse their passions, advised the chiefs, indeed ordered them, to remain quiet, and leave their protection from the nefarious white men in Fiji and their aider and abettor, the New Zealand Government, in his hands.

Now, all this alleged unjust treatment of the Maoris by by the Government of New Zealand, and all this alleged desire of the white people in Fiji to deprive the Fijians of their land, is, of course, great nonsense. But, it is nonsense of a most dangerous sort when addressed by a person in the high position of Governor to persons like the Fijians, who naturally accept as real all that is told them by the Governor.

No doubt the Government of New Zealand will take a very serious view of the libellous accusations brought against it by the Governor of Fiji, and, for the sake of the honor and good fame of that Government, it is necessary that it should do so, and that it should take effectual steps to refute these accusations. The Government of New Zealand has been publicly and officially accused of exploiting the Maoris for the benefit of the white man. Before New Zealand can hope to successfully govern in the islands of the South Seas she must eradicate from the native mind the damaging prejudice created against her by the speech of the Governor of Fiji to the chiefs assembled at Wainibokasi. "What has happened to the Maoris is what happens to all colored people under such a Government as New Zealand possesses"—so says the Governor of the Crown Colony of Fiji!

That is to say that the Government of a country, which has free and enlightened institutions, and responsible ministers, always treat the natives unjustly, and exploits them for the page 10 benefit of the 'wicked white man'; and it is only under the iron rule of irresponsible autocracy, that justice is found, and the 'wicked white man' kept from the fulfilment of his nefarious designs upon the native. Such is the gospel according to the Crown Colony Governor of Fiji. But New Zealand is not singular in her form of Government. The Governor of Fiji, therefore, includes the Commonwealth among the Governments unfit, from inherent injustice, to be entrusted with the care and control of native races.

But, it is absolutely certain that New Guinea will shortly be handed over to the Government of the Commonwealth. In view of that certainty, and of the fact that New Zealand is on the point of annexing the Cook Islands, it would seem that Mr. Chamberlain does not altogether agree with the Governor of Fiji in his estimate of the character of the Government of New Zealand, and others of like nature.

The Governor should apologise for his accusations against the honor of the white people of Fiji, and for his accusations against the honour of the Government of New Zealand. The accusations having been publicly, and officially made, should, in like manner be publicly and officially retraced, and this his Excellency should in fairness do in the next issue of Na Mata. That the speech was a blunder is clear; the publication, far and wide among the natives, of unfounded aspersions on the honor of the Government of New Zealand is of course something of a more serious nature, but if amends in the shape of a retractation and apology be at once made, it is to be hoped that the regrettable incident may be passed over without further notice, and be relegated to oblivion.