THE SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION ON THE COLONIES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 101, 18 December 1869, Page 6

THE SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION ON THE COLONIES.

During the meeting, commencing on September 29, of this Association at Bristol, several papers were read on the relations between England and her Colonies. In our last issue we gave the inaugural address of Sir Stafford Norfchcote, and papers by the Duke of Manchester, Mr. J. E. Gorst, Mr. John Noble, and Mr. F. P. Labilliere ; and we now furnish our readers with the other addresses delivered on the occasion, as reported in the European Mail : — Sir John Bowbing did not see in the future — so far as our rotations with our colonies woro concerned — any causo of uneasiness or alarm. The loss of the North American colonies was a groat one, and was brought about by the rejection of the demands for just concessions, but in tho result our interests had not been projudicially affected. Still it was impossible not to feel great intei'Cßt in those great conceptions they all had as to the influence of this nation upon the destinies of tho world. They owed much to thoso whoso energy, ability, and adventurous spirits had established their colonies. Even tho tyranny of our forefathers had driven forth men who subsequently founded great nations. The problem as to how tho colonies should be dealt with was a very difficult one. They were situate in various parts of tho world, with a great variety of soil, of intorost, and of population, and it should be remembered that tho wisest man here knew less of the present condition of our possessions abroad than an uninstructed man know of what was passing at home. Do what we pleased, they could not have the same means of legislating beneficially for the colonists as the colonists had for themselves. He could fully corroborate what had been said by Mr. Noble as to tho influonco of free trado upon the interest of a colony. When he became Governor of Ilong Kong, the number of itß inhabitants was 36,000. Fi-ce trade was so thoroughly established, that even harbour dues were not charged, and when ho left, the population had reached tho number of 96,000, and in seven years tho tonnage had risen from 300,000 to 750,000 tons. It was a matter of great regret to him to sco that tho spirit of protection was again appearing amongst them. Tho laws which regulated free trado were beginning to bo as well understood as wore the laws of gravitation, and he was a bold man, indeed, who would counsel a backward step now. [Hear.hear.] Freo trade principles were so spreading, that ho believed they were materially influencing the United States. Nothing the colonists could do would be so likoly to serve them and the mother country than to remove overy difficulty which existed in tho way of tho development of our commercial relations. [Hear, hear.] Mr. HaksH, ex-M.P., was inclined to think that the suggestion as to a confederation of the Australian Colonies was impracticable. Democracy to bo successful must be of small dimensions, and tho Australian Colonies must be more or less democratic. With regard to protection he was sorry to find that a teacher like Mr. Mill had recommended it to the colonies. [Hear hear.] If it were not good for an old country, it surely could not be for a new one. Protection, proventod industry finding its proper chuimel, and tended to cripple tho i*esources of a nation. Ho wished to disabuse the minds of those who heard him of tho idea that tho colonies were a great exponso to this country. If they wore separated from us, tho protection of our commerce in distant parts of the world would cost infinitely more than tho cost of tho colonies to us now did, and he questioned much whether that protection would bo as effectively afforded. Tho colonies ought to bear a fair proportion of their own external defences, and the whole of their internal, save whero interference by tho mother country with tho native tribes had brought about a state of tlmigs which necessitated the keeping up of troops. Ho believed that ultimately tho colonies would become free. It was certain that they should all die, but wero they on that account to hasten their own dissolution ? To give tho colonies independence now would be to present them witli a " deadly dower." For his part, ho thought they could not do better than go on as they were. Anomalies no doubt existed, but with good sense and good feeling at both sides, ho thought thoy would get rid of them all. [Hear, hear.] As to tho dofenco of tho colonies, he thought the mother country ought to find them tho men, and that the colonies should pay half the cost. The relations of England and her colonial possessions •were as thoso of parent and child j England was regarded as " homo," % and he trusted that economical motives would never cause that feeling to be destroyed. [Hear, hear.] Sib CnitiSTor-nER Rawlinson agreed as to the relations of the mother country and the colonies being that of parent and child ; but so surely as the father lost control over his children when they arrived at maturity, so surely would tho colonies obtain absolute control over their own country. The time would come when they would cease to further its interests. For his part, ho protested against the feeling which seemed to be growing up, that we ought to cast the colonies aside like a dirty glove. [Cheers.] It was the same kind of feeling which had lost us the Americaii States. They thought they could squeeze a few pounds more out of them, and the consequence •was a frightful schism. If they cast off tho colonies for tho sake of some purely economical feeling, he should bo sorry for it ; for even in that low point of view they would not effect a saving. They would turn warm into lukewarm friends, if they did not convert allies into onemies, and they would be forced to maintain military stations in various places, and at immenso cost, for the protection of British commeroe and interests. Sir William Denison (late Governor of New South Wales), said that in dealing with the question then under discussion, they should bo clear as to what they meant by tho word " colony." Malta was not a colony, neither was Gibraltar, Aden, Bermuda, Mauritius, or Hong Kong. They were places maintained for the advantage of this country — for the protection of its trado — for coaling, or for nulitai'y stations. A colony was a community of men and ■woinon who weve of ourselves and had gono forth from this country and settled in distant parts, and the doscondunts of thoso people. Thoy regarded England as the mother country — they looked to it with prido and affection, and they were willing to do anything to maintain its honour. When a son was old enough and able to take caro of himself, a wise father allowed him to dd so. They had, in truth, but four colonies — Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and tho Cape. Tho idea which hud been put forward Boino timo sinco that each colony should be represented by fo.ur or fivo members in tho Uouso of Commons, ho regarded as absurd,. Tho duty of England was to prepare her colonies for freedom, and that observation he extended to the empire in the Eiist. The discussion was continued by Colonel Tobukns, who expressed hia surpvise that whilo throughout Europo and in America tho deaire for confederation was taking root and spreading, hero in England tho doctrine of separation was boing advocated. Ho had resided twenty-five years in Australia, and certainly in all that time he harl nover heard a sontimont of tho kind breathed. [Hear, hear.] Ho greatly regretted to find thnt at homo such doctrines wero not only preached, but woro favourably received. Ho quite agreed with thoso who had stated that tho idea of the expense of our colonial possessions was a greatly exaggerated one. It was a grave orror to suppose that tho expenso was incurred for tho protection of tho colonies, as would, ho thought, bo cloarly seen when he stated that fully 9s. lOd. of tho colonial tonnage floating in colonial waters was British owned. Penal settlements had cost the country a good deal, because we sent there human wolvc* who should be kept down with a strong hand ; but the Colony of Victoria for example, had cost this country not one farthing ; and tho Colony of South Australia was founded on the principle of not costing this country anything, and that principlo would havo been enrriod out in letter and spirit bub for tho interference of Downing* etreet. But, notwithstanding that interference, tho colony had coit Britain £200,000 only. Ho was fully

impressed with the conviction that the benefit this country derived from its colonies outweighed any cost their connection with her entailed upon her. [Hear, hear.] He could not agree with Mr. Marsh that thoy should go on as they were. He admitted that Colonial Ministers were well selected, and were able and well-meaning men ; but,, as a rule, they laboured under the disadvantage of knowing nothing of the colonies. [Hear, hear, and laughter.] A system of red-tape prevailed. The Minister was prompted by others who entertained last century ideas. The voice of the colonists was never heard in this country. If it was raised in the House of Commons, there would inevitably be a count-out if something of great interest was not lower down on the paper. What was wanted was that the colonists' view should be known and regarded. They had attained all but complete legislative independence, and what was required — as ho believed after a long and anxious study of the question — was the additionalliberty to be represented in this country, each by an ambassador or diplomatic agent, who could bring with authority before Parliament and tho public what the views of the colonists really were. The Governors would then represent England in tho colonies, and the colonies would be represented here. This, he believed, would be a solution of the difficulty which, now admittedly existed. [Hear, hear.] Mr. Edwabd Wilson said he had spent half his life in the colonies, and was one of a committee now in England considering tho question which was now under discussion. Ho thought the difficulty would be met if a representative in whom the colonists had full confidence, was sent from each of the colonies, and formed in this country a Council of State, with tho Colonial Secretaiy at their head, for the Government of their colonial possessions. [Hear, hear.] Mr. Frederick Hill repudiated the idea that the feeling existed to any extent in this country that the colonies should be left to shift for themselves. [Hear, hear.] Their connection with the mother country was a close, ho trusted would be a lasting one — [cheers] — and ho believed it could and would be made one of greater mutual advantage. He did not think the appointment of ambassadors, as sugeested, would bo found workable. For his part, he followed Adam Smith in this matter, and thought that the true way to meet the present difficulty would bo a fair share of parliamentary representation and full power to manage all affairs which came fairly under their control. Owing to tho instantaneous communication afforded by the telegraph, Australia was now practically nearer to London than Scotland was sixty years ago. If there were representatives in tho House of Commons to speak for tho colonists, the apathy which now existed in that assembly on ! colonial matters would be removed.