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[Extract]
What the effect of muzzling a race of people, used to settling differences and difficulties after searching inquiry will be, we do not now care to enquire. We are concerned at present with the pointing out of one or two facts, which ought not to be ignored by Government. It was to be expected that the people would plead the hardness of the times caused by a succession of dry seasons as a reason for allowing their taxes to fall in arrear. But why the evil day of solemnly calling them to account for seven years neglect should have been put off to this the most straightened of the seven years is, to us, a very difficult problem to solve. We yield to no one in our anxiety to see the Native people standing well with the Government. Indeed, we would do all to assist Government in getting in the money owing. But is it not dealing with the people too harshly to threaten them with summary seizure of stock if there be no visible improvement during the current month? It was pointed out, with truth and force, that cattle were going for comparatively nothing in the market, and still on account of the famine and the taxes they had to sell them. For Government to make a forcible seizure of Natives' cattle on account of taxes not collected for the last seven years would be to deal well, in a manner that is not kind with their ignorant subjects.
The Headman who made the wise request that Government publish notices affecting them in the Native Opinion, observed that in many cases most of them did not know exactly the periods when taxes had to be paid. And no doubt this recrimination between Government and taxpayers only serves to involve the issues. Anyhow, be the case involved or not, the fact stands alone that the Natives owe the money, and that it is important it should be paid over to Government without delay. We hold, however, that the present time would be inopportune for the forcible seizure of stock; and for various reasons. While it would create a class of discontented impoverished people the seizure would not adequately pay the Government. This impoverished class would have to live somehow, and, as necessity is a stern master, stock stealing would lamentably increase. It will be said, as it was said in the meeting, these people must go to work. But it is not easy to get our people to do two things at once. Their excuse just now would be the ploughing season, and we should be the last to cloak them from Government interference did we feel that Government would reap something from such interference. At present these people are destitute, and are at their wits' ends in want of grain for sowing. If a paternal Government could go on without the money for the past seven years, surely they can wait seven months till the people gather in their crops, and may have been to work between weeding and harvest time, ere resorting to the extreme measure of forcibly seizing their drought stricken beasts.