Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-18
lBx G. S. %strandvold.l

Wy us y. u SO1usJ ..s.
YIN order to be enabled to. fully un-
derstand the significance Of political
and social movements in New Zealand
at the historical background without
which the phenomena Of the present
cannot be adequately explained or
comprehended.
Polynesian canoe-men arrived at
New Zealand in the fourteenth en-
fury, but how long before Mat the
islands had been populated. no n
can say. In the seventeenth century
English explorers began to visit New
Zealand and to gather knowledge
about natural and other conditions
prevailing there, and later on French.
Spanish. Russian and American navi-
gators followed in their step. In 1914
England sent a contingent of mission
aries, but the progress they made was
exceedingly slow owing to the con-
tinuous tribal Warfare which existed.
BY persistent efforts. the missionaries
succeeded, however, so we'll that an
official report in 1s39>was able t say
that Christianity and civilization were
in the ~ascendency among the natives
Of New Zealand.
Political Turmoil Starts.
Considerable excitement had by
SAA0S AAA LOG III LLll6-
land where great pressure was exert
ed on the government in an effort to
persuade it to annex New Zealand
and to make it part of the British
empire. The government seemed ex-
tremely reluctant, and it was only
when a French colonization company
started preparations to gain a foot
hold in the group Of islands that
England dispatched Captain Hobson
uy{fH nctr,os1o - NY4-,
Zealand to Australia, in case such a
measure appeared desirable to him;
it was emphasized that the attempt
should be made through peaceful ne
gotiations with the natives.
Captain Hobson found it easy to
convince the natives hat they would
fare well under British sovereignty,
and by Granting them certain valu-
able concessions he obtained their
consent to New Zealand to the
Australian colony.
lied by a large colonist company had
arrived on the ground. and the fol-
lowing years were spent in everlast-
ing dispute Is to rights and privileges
Of the government n of private cor
p%orations. Much delay and the un-
rolling Of endless red tape were the
consequences Of the strife between
government and C~OlOniSts, and 1t was
not until a strong military leader was
sent from Australia that conditions
became settled in New Zealand.
Gets Self Government.
Self-government was granted by
the home parliament in 1852, proceed
ed by much hesitation and many fac
tional fights, and four years later a
parliamentary system was inaugur-
sated.
For twenty years thereafter New
Zealand was the scene of constant
trouble; between the central govern
ment and the provincial councils
there was a constant conflict raging,
the question of supreme authority be-
ing involved time and again during
this long period.
At the same time a racial fight
went on-betwesn the colonists and the
native Maoris who thought they were
entitled to retain at least the central
part Of North Island. Their leaders
We're, however, incompetent, and al
though the natives themselves fought
intelligently' and bravely the conflict
at last developed into what is now
known as a war of attrition in the
cousse Of which the weaker part final
ly was subdued for the simple reason
that it was too exhausted 10 keep up
the contest, so in 1871 the racial fight
petered out,