The Evening Star : WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1884.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4292, 23 February 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star : WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1884.

For tho cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that noeds resistance, For tlni futuro in the dietanoo, And tho Rood Unit wo run do.

Tiik cxtrome circuinspoction employed by Lord Derby in dealing with colonial questions has received anothor exemplification in his treatment of tho Confederation and Annexation Act passed by tho Now Zoaland Legislature last session, ltia Excollency tho Govornor lias just received a despatch from tho Secretary of Stato for tho Colonies, intimating that the Queen will not bo advised to exercise Her Majesty's power of disallowance in respect of any of the Acts passed last session by the New Zealand Parliament, but that tho consideration of Sir Goorgo Grey's Confederation and Annexation Act has boon reserved until tho proceedings of tho Sydney Conferforence shall havo been considered by the Imporial Government. Fears wore from tho first entertained that this moasuro would not receive Her Majesty's assont, on tho score of unconstitutionality ; but it would seem that any straining of tho Constitution is to bo overlooked, or othcrwiso tho Act would havo boon decisively condemned. Tho suspension of tho Royal assont, and tho condition laid down that the disposal of tho measure will depend upon tho Federal policy of tho Imperial Government, look vory like a mild attempt to coerco Now Zealand into tho Australasian Confederation. The despatch plainly indicates (what has long been understood to be the fact) that Her Majesty's advisors aro bent on achieving tho federation of these colonies, and that they hesitate to confer powers of annexation and confederation upon one isolated colony, not because these powers are beyond its constitutional rights, but because such policy would contlict with tho pet ideas of Homo politicians. Tho passing of Sir Georg3 Grey's Act gave evidence of the desire of Now Zealand to bo in a position to exorcise independently the power to increase her territory and enter into federal union with other islands of the South Seas. The Queen's advisers seem inclined to grant tho justico of this claim; but monnwhilo tho Sydney Convention has brought forward tho question of Australasian Federation, New Zealand is found to be anything but enthusiastic at tho prospect of union with hor continental neighbours, and to secure her acquiescence thero is held over her in terrorem tho threat of the Royal assont being withheld from the popular measure introduced by Sir Georgo Grey and supported by the Govornmont. This inference is placed almost beyond doubt by tho cable dospatch which the Premier of Victoria has received from tho Agont-Goneral of that colony in London, intimating that " Hor Majesty's Government has decided not to sanction any annexation of tho Western Pacific Islands until tho federation of the Australasian colonies has been accomplished, and that it will be necessary for tho various colonial legislatures to adopt resolutions confirming the action of their delegates at tho Sydney Convention before the Imperial Parliament can pass the necessary enabling Act,' which, however, will bo prepared by the Imporial authorities, and which it is proposed to lay before Parliament during tho present session." We may take this as a pretty plain intimation that powers of annexation will only be granted to the federated colonies, and that the despatch re Sir Georgo Grey's bill is meant as a hint to New Zealand that if she desires the powers she asks for she must seek them through union with the other colonies. The intelligence will not prove very acceptable to tho Parliament by which this measure was adopted. If federation wore agreed to, no doubt such an Act could-enly be passed with the consent of tho Federal Council; but as federation is not yet an accomplished fact, the resolution convoyed in Lord Derby's despatch betrays a most objectionable coercivo policy, or one of vacillating weakness, on tho part of Her Majesty's advisers in relation to the wishes of the peoplo of this colony on a matter of vast importance and far-reaching consequences.