The Dominion. THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1911. THE CANADIAN ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1196, 3 August 1911, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1911. THE CANADIAN ELECTIONS.

Probably most people in New Zealand know Canada best through the Prime Minister of .the great Dominion and the part he has played _ m recent years at the different Imperial Conferences. Bin Wilfrid Laurier has been an outstanding figure amongst the representatives ■ of. the Overseas Dominions on all occasions, and beside him even Mr. Seddon fell into a quite secondary place. To a great many people ( Sir Wilfrid Laurif.r's latest appearance at the Conference just closed has been the least satisfactory of all. The reserve he has shown concerning the future policy of. Canada respecting Imperial affairs—a reluctance to take any stop likely to have an appearance of committing his country to any pledge to support the foreign policy of Britain in time of emergency—this attitude, coupled 'with the, activity he lias shown in favour of the Tariff Reciprocity Agreement with, the United States, has placed hirii in a measure under ' the suspicion of the more extromo advocates of the closer union of the Empire. While there is perhaps something to be said in justification of this suspicion it should not be forgotten that Sir Wilfrid L.vur'ier has a somewhat delicate and difficult, task in representing Canada at the Imperial Conference. Canada is the biggest, and probably the most sensitive, pi the Overseas Dominions where • its national independence is in any way, touched on. it has grown large enough to .fcql that it can claim a certain independent status and it is, particularly resentful of anything suggestive of the idea that it is still in leading strings. -It wants to manage things for itself—to have its own navy and to make its own treaties. But in asserting its independence it does not wish to cut adrift from the Empire. Sir-Wilfrid Laurier is between this sentiment which is representative of the majority of Canadians and what might be called the British-Canadian view, which would commit Canada outright to an alliance with Britain which would make it inevitable that the foe of cither must, be regarded as the ■ common enemy .of both. On the whole it may be conceded therefore that Sir Wil'frid Laurier has performed a difficult task with success and has made it sufficiently clear that Canada, while retaining for herself a certain freedom of action, has no desire to weaken the ties which bind her to Britain and to the Empire.

But Canada's resentment of any interference with her national freedom has converted the Tariff Reciprocity proposals into a weapon that is being turned against the Government of which Sin Wilfrid Laurier is the head. During the discussion of the treaty in the United States the American opponents of the proposals have succeeded in stirring up a deep unrest amongst loyal Canadians by stating or suggesting that thfi treaty is only the beginning of bigger things. That it is in factmere ly a preliminary to the annexation of Canada by the United States or at anyrate fusion of the two great countries. The Canadian people do not .want to be cither annexed or fused with any other rival nation. When to the uneasiness caused by these American comments is added the fears of those producers and manufacturers who expect.to suffer if tho Tariff Treaty is pulrinto effect it will be seen that the Government is faced with a strong section of the population bitterly determined to light the proposals -to the finish. The Opposition, or Conservative party in Parliament, led by Mr. Borden, is making' the Tariff Reciprocity Treaty the chief issue at the elections, and Sir Wilviud Laurier docs not appear to bo unwilling to meet his opponents on this ground. It must not be forgotten that the Government of Canada is in one respect very much in the, same position as the Government of New Zealand. It has been in ollice continuously for a great many years and has all the advantages associated with.office. Sir Wilfrid Laurikr has been Premier siiice, 1606 and no one knows better how to hanrtic the conflicting interests which ncccstar-

ily exist in a country oxtiMulinj.'; over so enormous sm area and with a population composed of different, nationalities holding divergent views on many questions. He has been particularly fortunate, too, in the lack of cohesion amongst his opponents. They have heen continually quarrelling amongst themselves and are even now divided respecting the lieciproc ily proposals. Despite these things, however, the Conservatives are not without hope and their prospects are in some quarters well favoured. The Ottawa correspondent of the New York Kvcnimj Post, who is largely pro-L.\rniEii, commenting on the position recently, said: Parliaments in this country are a good deal longer-lived than in Great Britain. The system of paying members is partly accountable, for this, and the very large amount of patronage enjoyed by the pr.rty in power naturally enhances its chances of success in by-elections, or in the case of an appeal to the country. But even the most consistent electorate is apt to buck the harness to pieces after a time, and probably the greatest danger to the Liberals to-dav lies in the chance of Hie constituencies" taking the bit. between their teeth and bolting, from a sheer desire to kick up their heels. This perhaps sums up the position reasonably well, but in the Reciprocal Tariff Treaty there is something definite to "buck" about. There is certain to be a very keen and probably a very bitter struggle; but with the' divisions in the ranks of the Opposition the chances of the Government being returned to office i would appear to be fairly good.