THE UNEMPLOYED—THE COLONIES AND THE QUEEN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1118, 14 January 1870, Page 3

THE UNEMPLOYED— THE COLONIES AND THE QUEEN.

(Prom the " Beehive.'') t. ,w ,• We are informed that the following petition to the Queen is being largely circulated for signature, and thafc a series of meetings upon the subject will shortly be held :— God Save the Queen ! " May it please your Majesty, — We beg humbly to lay before, you that .a large number of men, women, and children, your Majesty's subjects, have long been, and are now, in a state of destitution through inability to procure work ; and that their condition in this country is very miserable aud hopeless. " They are informed, and believe, that, in other parts of your Majesty's dominions there is a greafc demand for labour, and also a great abundance of food, .so that all who are here perishing for want of the necessaries of life might there live bytheir own exertions in plenty and comfort ; but they are unable to reach those distant countries without assistance. " We, therefore, humbly pray your Majesty to see that such measures be taken without delay as may enable those who are willing to work to go to those parts of your Majesty's dominions where their labour is required, and where they may prosper, and may increase the prosperity of the whole empire. " We also beg to represent to your Majesty thafc we have heard with alarm and indignation thafc your Majesty has been advised to consent to give up the colonies, containing millions of. acres of unoccupied laud, which might be employed profitably, both to the colonies and ourselves as a field for' emigration. "We respectfully submit that your Majesty's .colonial possessions were won for your Majesty, and settled by the valour and enterprise and treasure of the English people, and that haying thus become a part of the national freehold and inheritance of your Majesty's subjects, they are held in trust by your Majesty, and ought; not to be surrendered, bufc transmitted to your Majesty's successor whole and entire as they were received by your Majesty. " And in order to discourage and defeat all such projects for disunion, we humbly pray your Majesty to cause England and her colonies and dependencies, to be incorporated by name into one British Empire, and that proclamation be made that you arc Sovereign thereof, in like manner as you have been proclaimed Queen of India. " vVe believe that such proclamation would be joyfully welcomed throughout your Majesty's dominions, aud, if assurance of Ihis be required, ifc may be found in the welcome which has been accorded to the Princes of the blood in every one of the colonies which they .have visited. " We would also submit that your Majesty might call to your honorable Privy Council representatives from all the colonies. " Finally, we pray your Majesty to assemble your parliament without delay, that they may inquire into tho causes of the present distress, and seek a remedy. " We are, "Your Majesty's Humble Subjects."