AN ISLAND CONFEDERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 198, 21 August 1900, Page 2

AN ISLAND CONFEDERATION.

The colonial gossip of the "Morning Post" cordially approves of "King1 Dick's" proposal to annex Fiji, the Cook and Friendly group to his kingdom. He remarks: "Xo more opportune time than the present -could be selected for extending the boundaries of New Zealand, and the suggestion seems worth}' of every consideration. For some years past it has been the aim of New Zealand to absorb Great Britain's possessions in the Western Pacific. At one time it was seriously contemplated to join Samoa to New Zealand, but since then many things have happened. First came the triumvirate form of Government, and finally the cession to Germany, but we still have a little hold on the group and Tonga, has lately sworn allegiance to the Queen. If anything is done in this direction it would perhaps be better to formally annex certain islands .and then to place all British territory in the Western Pacific within the area of New Zealand. Certainly a step of this kind must relieve Downing-street of n great deal o£ responsibility, and it could hardly interfere with any vested interests, more especially if the Cabinet retained the power of nominating the subordinate Governors. Of course, it will be said this is founding two federations in the other hemisphere, the one United Australia, the other United New Zealand, and unkind people may say that it was an idea of something of this kind that prevented New Zealand becoming- an original State of the Australian Commonwealth. But I am sure if Mr Chamberlain can be persuaded to part with his Crown colony, and is willing to hand over the small dependencies in the Pacific the proposition of expansion policy is sound. New Zealand's finances being in such good order, any outstanding debts could easily be liquidated,, and with Wellington as the centre of government the island would have easier access to head-quarters than is the case under the present system. As in this country taxation involves representation, so in the new federation the various islands would send representatives to the New Zealand Parliament. In my opinion the two federated would tend to strengthen the Empire, and -when the Pacific cable is an accomplished fact, the difficulty of communication would disappear, while a few fast steamers would soon bring the.various portions of the Pacific into close commercial relationship."