The State of the Islands of New Zealand
93
Would you make them subject to any Law?
- Yes. We should at least give them the same Laws as we have; they would easily understand those Laws. A Native inflicts Punishment at once now, and gives no Time for Repentance to the Culprit.
You state them to be very intelligent and active as Mariners and Agricultural Servants; do you believe they could not cultivate their own Land and navigate their own Seas, provided there were not Europeans, and without the Europeans taking Possession of any of their Territory?
- No; they must have Europeans, and they must be employed by Europeans; they must have civilized Persons to employ them.
If the Europeans will purchase the Produce, will not they raise it?
- Yes; but they have raised only sufficient for their daily Wants, not putting by any thing for a future Day. They have immense Tracts of Land lying useless.
They are willing to provide for themselves all that they consider necessary and useful, provided they can find a Market for their Goods?
- Yes.
Did you sign the Petition in 1836?
- Yes, it is my Signature; but there is a Mistake in One Letter of the Name.
The Witness is directed to withdraw.
Ordered, That this Committee be adjourned to Tuesday next, One o'Clock.
(123.2.)
M 3
