THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 264, 16 September 1864, Page 4

THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.

A considerable amount of excitement and apprehension of coming evil has found its way into the public mind, from the determined action of th« Home Government in making "Western Australia a penal settlement. "We take the following from the Soiii/iland Times —

Earl Grey denied lliat there is any danger of convicts finding their way to the more attractive Eastern settlements of the Australian Continent, and disputed the right of the other Colonies to a voice in a matter which, in his Lordship's opinion, only concerns the Imperial Govemmct and Western Australia. lie attached no weight to all the remonstrances which have been sent home, but looked upon them as purely vexatious. Those objections and remonstrances wero Baid to arise from the clamor of a few interested men, ■ and do not represent the feelings of the colonists at large. The idea that a continuance of transportation might lead to an attempt on the part of the Australian Colonies to throw off the British yoke, and declare themselves independent States, was ridiculed. I believe it to be mere idle talk. The whole gain of the connection is on the side of the Colonics. And again, I, for one, think that if they desire to cast off their allegiance to the British crown for a quarrel of this kind, the}' should be allowed to do so. It seems probable that the majority of the Hcmse were of the same way of thinking as Earl Grey, though not going quite so far, nor using such forcible language. Coming at a time when this subject of transportation has just been revived with an intensity never perhaps felt before, this speech is likely to have a powerful eflect on the minds of Victorian Colonists. Whilst looking on Mr. Wilson's " Ke-shipment Scheme" as one not all suited to the case —as the production of a misguided man, and considered as absurd by almost all who have taken the trouble to make themselves acquainted with it—we cannot do away with the fact that this is no imaginary case of hardship and injustice, got. up by a few interested persons. Earl Grey is altogether wrong 011 that point.; and, had he not been blinded by the weight of his former argument in favor of transportation, viz..— its convenience to the mother country, he would have paused before lie ventured so to stigmatise an agitation which had its origin in the purest motives of morality and patriotism.