Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1889.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 300, 25 November 1889, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1889.

Sm Henry Parkes' proposal to create a \ " Dominion" of Australia has undoubfc- : edly been received with great favor ! among the colonists in that continent, | and this— although wo may have some | difficulty in ropressing a smile when perusing some of the " high falutin' " | style of writing to which it has given rise in certain quarters — ib not to be wondered at. For the Australians the proposed confederation possesses many advantages, the principal one being that, if ever it becomes an accomplished fact, it must put an end to the vexatious tariffs which now render trade between ! the various colonies both difficult and complicated. The existence of these artificial barriers between colony and colony will, of course, be the greatest obstacle which has to bo overcome, but it is not an insuperable one if once the idea to which the Premier of New South Wales has given birth takes a firm hold upon the people, as there _ seems good reason for believing that it will alo. Not only do tho practical advantages promise to begreat, but the proposal appeals strongly to the imagination, thus bringing & by no means insignificant influence to bear in favour of its adoption.^ The Australian people are not wanting in ambition, and there is something in tho idea of union in one great Dominion that will strongly commend itself to that particular feature in their character. Nor can the objection be reasonably raised that at present they are too small a community for such an advance in their status among the nations of tho earth, for their population numbers three millions, which is half a million -more than that of the United States when that country separated from Great Britain and set up on its own account. Altogether we aro not at all surprised to find that Sir Henry Parkes struck so responsive a chord when, on his recent visit to the capital of Queensland, he made j known what has clearly been working in his mind for so long. That it is no new idea with him, however reticent ho may have been on the subject of late, is proved by a speech he made in Melbourne twenty -two years ago, when, at a conference of Oolonial Ministers held for the purpose of considering the desirability of promoting an intercolonial policy for the mutual benefit of the Australian colonies, ho said: — "I think the time has ai'rived when these colonies should be united by some federal bond of connection. * * * I regard this occasion with great interest, because I beliove it will inevitably lead to a more permanent federal understanding. Ido not mean to say that when you leave this room you will see a new constellation of six stars in the heavens. Ido not wish to startle your imagination by asking you to look for the footprints of six giants in the morning dew when the night rolls away; but this I feel certain of, that the mother country will regard this congress of the colonies just in the same light as a father and mother may view the conduct of their children when they first observe those children beginning to look out for homes and connections for themselves. I am cjuito sure thab the report of this meeting will make a profound impression upon the minds of thoughtful statesmen in England. They will sco that, for the first time, these oil'shoots of tho Empire in the southern hemisphere can unifco, and thab in their union they are backed by nearly 2,000,000 of souls." Subsequent events have shown that Sir Henry was far in advance of the times in thuß spoaking then, but thoro is good reason for believing thafc he lias now returned to the subject with an infinitely better chance of accomplishing his object. But, however favourably the proposal may be viewed in Australia, here in New Zealand it has met with a very different reception. And this is no more surprising than is the fact of its having been taken up so warmly on the other side. Now Zealanders, naturally enough, regard with coldness a scheme which, if Carried into eflect, would make their country, of which they aro justly proud, and whoße individuality they are strongly disposed to maintain, a more appanage of an Australian Dominion. They are very 3coptical as to the amount of influence bheir representatives, almost beyond reach af public opinion in their constituencies would exercise bi a Parliament sitting a thousand miles away, and tho prospect of being reduced from the position of a self-governing colony to a Provinco of bhe new Dominion, does not find favour in their eyes. Tho Australian press does uot altogether liko tho attitude, adopted

by this colony in the matter, and fails to see why, when public opinion is so warm in favor of the suggested confederation in Australia, it should bo so cold iv JNew Zealand. The Sydney " Telegraph," we wei*e advised by cable the other day, oven goes so_ far as to utter a gentle threat with a view to coercing the colonists on this side. It tells us that "being outside the union means outside the tariff — from which we presume that evon if free trade is established within the Union, protection is to bo the policy adopted 'against outsiders — and wo are rominded of the " wonderful assistance " that JNew South Wales has proved to New Zealand in the matter of affording a market for her produce. But is it necessary that a tariff barrier should exist between the Dominion and this colony ? Will it be to the advantage of the former to erect it ? There are two sides to the " wonderful assistance " phase of the question, 'iruo the New Zealand farmers have been very glad to receive Australian gold for their produce, but have not the Australians been equally glad of tho opportunity of securing the products of our cornfields and dairy farms in exchange for their money? In this matter Australia and New Zealand have been mutually helpful to one another, aud the advantages on both sides are so great that, notwithstanding the delicate ' reminder of the " Telegraph," wo cannot but 'believe that the advantages of an intercolonial tariff mu6t be so manifest that in framing the policy with regard to other countries, the Dominion will not be disposed te entirely overlook its own interests in connection with the food supplies which the Australian colonies require, and which New Zealand is now, and will be more and more as cultivation progresses, able to provide. Whatever may bo the ultimate action of New Zealand in this matter, we feel sure that her colonists will require far greater inducements to be held out than havo yet. been ofiered to induce them to cast in their lofc with " the future nation of the Australian colonies."