Question of Empire

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 238, 20 September 1922, Page 4

Question of Empire

PRESENT CONSTITUTION. INDEPENDENT EXECUTIVES A WEAKNESS. (Special to •“Tribune.”) Wellington. Sept. 20. A broad view of the possible effect of the Mother Country’s appeal to the dominions was taken by Mr. Malcolm (Clutha) in tlie course of the debfcte on the Near East crisis in the HoUse last night. He said he was greatly concerned over the constitution question—constitution of the Empire with in the Empire. When the Great War came upon the world there was only one opinion held within the Empite. and all the Dominions rallied to the call made by the Old Country. In the present case it must be admitted that there was room for difference of opinion. Personally he had only One opinion, and he supported wholeheartedly the Government in the action it had taken. However, he was looking eagerly, he would not say anxiously ,to see what Canada and South Africa would do. If one of those countries failed to answer the call it would be the beginning of the end of the Empire. Mr. Atmore (Nelson): You are a pessimist. Mr. Malcolm: I say that if one of these dominions fails to take its part then we are no longer an Empire. Mr. McCallum (Wairau): Ail fudge. Mr. Malcolm: VVe would no longer be an Empire working as one unit, but merely an alliance. The moment we cease to act as a single unit we cease to be an Empire. He may hold each other in regard and affection, but we will not be an Empire. He felt afraid of the future of the Empire so long as its destinies were governed by six independent executives. It was absolutely. certain that the Empire could not carry on with six independent executives. Personally, he did not care what system replaced the present system—lmperial executive, parliament or anything else—so long as there was only one executive body which could bind the Empire. He could not understand those who opposed such a scheme on the ground tnat a single executive could impose taxation on units ofi the Empire. It was just as reasonable that New Zealand should l>e taxed by the Empire authority as it was that Atari borough should be taxed by the Dominion Parliament, \Vest Australia by the Commonwealth Parliament and Virginia by the Federal Parliament of the I'mted States, it was on the question of taxation mat Great Britain lost one of her most important colonies. The people were prepared to .sacrifice their sons in order to maintain the Empire, and surely they should lie prepared to submit to taxation By way of an answer to Marlborough Mr. Atmore (Nelson) said that if the Empire could not hold together by common traditions, language and aspirations of its peoples—if it could not hold together by those threads, then it was not an Empire. Other uiiits might not be so prompt as New Zealand, but he was sure that they viewed the situation with just as much alarm, and that they would answer the Empire’s call. Mr. Statham (Dunedin Central) also referred briefly to the point, saying that it was the wonderful freedom of individual units which kept the Empire together. The Prime Minister said they wanted something more than an Imperial elecutive. At one time he believed an Imperial parliament was advisable, but he had changed his mind. No Imperial executive sitting in London could have power to tax different parts 'of the Empire. The loss of the American colonies turned on taxation. If an Imperial executive had power to tax it was inevitable that party politics should be introduced. That was what they wanted to avoid. They were progressing towards the establishment of a representative council of the Empire, with no executive powers. Any. proposals made would be submitted to the individual Parliaments. As sOon as the Imperial Parliament commenced tto tax Australia, or New Zealand, or other parts of the Empire, for the purpose of carrying out a war, serious trouble would arise. Many years must elapse before there was a satisfactory scheme of Empire government.