cHAP. x] MILITARY AND NAVAL DEFENCE 1253 
mensurate with the number of European settlers, that it was 
felt unnecessary to maintain, with great inconvenience and 
injury to the public service, large bodies of costly troops ilt 
fitted for guerrilla warfare in a difficult country, and there 
seems little doubt that in this regard the desire of the Imperial 
Government was fully legitimate. 
On the other hand, the Imperial Government were anxious 
as far as was possible to consider the needs of New Zealand in 
the mode and time of withdrawal of the forces. Difficulties 
arose from the fact that, after accepting the responsibility for 
native affairs, Mr. Fox’s Ministry was defeated on July 28, 
1862, by the casting vote of the Speaker on a proposed 
resolution in favour of placing the ordinary conduct of 
native affairs under the administration of the responsible 
ministers, and on August 19 Mr. Domett’s ministry reasserted 
the ultimate responsibility of the Governor. But the Imperial 
Qovernment remained firm, and by dispatch of February 26, 
1863, definitely decided to relinquish their control over the 
administration of native affairs, and the General Assembly 
accepted responsibility by resolution in November 1863.1 
Difficulties then arose as to the degree of control to be 
exercised over the Imperial troops, on the one hand by the 
Governor and on the other hand by the Colonial Ministry. 
The Colonial Ministry asserted its claim that it should control 
operations, and in particular that it should have the right 
to decide what steps should be taken in accordance with an 
Act passed in 1863, empowering the Governor to confiscate 
the lands of insurgent natives. The Governor was doubtful 
about confiscation, and the Imperial Government were much 
afraid lest wholesale confiscation should lead to the extension 
of the war, for the carrying on of which they were being 
made responsible. The Whitaker-Fox Ministry, which had 
been formed in October 1863, resigned in 1864, during the 
Parliamentary recess, as a consequence of disagreement with 
! See Parl. Pap., March 3, 1864, p. 96, and for the acceptance of the 
Legislative Council, Parl. Pap., June 1864, p. 6; Henderson, op. cit, 
P. 233. See also Parl. Pap., March 2, 1865, p. 13 (Mr. Welds views) ; 
C. 83, pp. 241 seq. (Mr. Stafiord’s views) ; Rusden, ii. 90 seq.