The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 242, 15 October 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1867.

The visit of a scion of the Royal Family of England to the colonies of the southern hemisphere has suggested the revival of a question which, without any exaggeration, may be described as the most important which can eDgnge the attention of colonial politicians. Wheu Mr O'Shanassy left Melbourne on his late visit to Europe-, at the public dinner giveu to him oa that occasion he is reported to have said that the time had arrived when a change in the government of the colouies had become necessary, and that that change should be be, their legislative union. Without any depreciation of the value of the constitutions under which it is the privilege of British colonists iu tbis part of the world to live, it must be admitted that in several instances of recent occurrence they have signally failed to meet certain difficulties which have arisen in the course of events. We have seen intercolonial conferences held for the laudable purpose of settling intercolonial disputes, which have resulted only in the aggravation of the evils which they .were intended to redress, for the simple reason thot the governments of the respective colonies were uuable to obtain parliamentary sanction to carry out the contracts they had made. We see neighboring colonies injuring each other's industry and commerce and the general prosperity by the adoption of different tariffs. At the present moment Sonth Australia is suffering' from the exclusion, by means of a differential duty, of her wines from the markets of Victoria, while the wine-growers of New South Wales are compelled, for their own protection from ruin, to, take their grapes over the Murray into Victoria before making them into wine. The absurdity of such a state of things is of course manifest, but it is equally true that there is no remedy for it under the existing constitutions of the co louies. So long as legislation is local, so long also will laws be local; and any hope of making the customs regulations of one colony harmonise with those of another will remain a political impossibility. Nor is this the only inconvenience to which the present system of local government subjects us. The absence of any general system of postal arrangements is found to be frequently productive of the most vexatious delay and annoyance, and the same may be said with regard to the difference in the various land systems. With reference also to the all important matter of immigration the policy of the varions colonies is diametrically and, there can be little doubt, injuriously opposed. While the smaller and less attractive colonies of South Australia and Queensland offer every inducement to immigrants, the policy of the two larger and richer oolonies of the great Australian continent is tp exclude tbem. The cause , of this glaring absurdity is undoubtedly to be found ia a spirit of narrow prejudice audi the subserviency of tbe local legislatures to tbe patwipna of local parties. Ilia ao evil inseparable from tbe institution of local government, but one , which in the purer aud more exalted atmosphere of a national assembly could not exist. By reason of onr isolated posi- : . tiou iu $his particular colony, these evils

have* not been brought home so palpably to"'; our appreciation, but our connection with the other colonies of the Australian group is daily becoming more intimate, aud there cau be no question that the iutereits of New Zealaud iu every point of view would be moat materially served by her incorporation in such a confederation as that ai which we bave hinted. The British colonies in North America have already set the example, and there can be no reasons save false reasons why in thosegreat matters of common importance to which we have briefly alluded, as well as in all other matters of general interest to these colonies, every member of the group should not act together irrespectively of geographical distinctions and of local jealousies. Divided, the colonies must retnaiuas, at present, rivals rather than friends — their neighborhood a source of mutual injury rather than of mutual good — and in, v the not impossible event of common external danger; find themselves weak and defenceless. United iu the bonds of a free and lasting union they would become what it is evident abundant mature intended them to be, a glorious nation, worthy of their common origin and of their common heritage, the right of independence and self-government.