THE FUTURE OF THE PACIFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5395, 3 March 1879, Page 3

THE FUTURE OF THE PACIFIC.

[I'Eli " HKKALD " SPECIAL WIRE.] Wellington, Feb. 24.' Sir George Grey has published a lengthy memo, or despatch from home, on certain cruelties Polynesian labourers are alleged to have been subjected to by Mr. F. Cornwall, in Lata. Sir George quotes a despatch of his written in 1547, and continues, "I still retain the opinion so long ago expressed, aud chink now that if Great Britain will not accept tho cession of those islands of the Pacific which do not belong to her, she should allow her colonies in this part of the world to do so. Their future interest and welfare are to the 1 highest extent involved in this question —in fact, the whole future advancement of civilization iu this part of tbe world depends upon it. On it hangs the question whether common language, common laws, common civilization, and a similar form of government shall prevail throughout the Pacific. If other Powers come to occupy the Pacific Islands, they will establish arsenals close to these colonies, which will not only imperil the future safety of the colonies, but will force a large aud constant military expenditure upon them. The Powers who take such islands may also establish convict colonies, which may ultimately flood the British settlements with undesirable persons, or may set up communities with peculiar forma of civilization, in some cases establishing what would almost be a kind of slavery. It is certain, also, if the Pacific Islands are held by foreign Powers, that in the future disputes will arise betvveon British communities any such foreign Powers, and the Pacific mad become the scene of constant wars, instead of being one vast area of peace and commerce of tho most valuable kind, from the great variety of commodities which the Islands can produce. It is difficult to understand why Great Britain should encourage foreign nations to gain a footing in the Pacific aud refuse the privilege to their own offspring ; aud it is still more difficult to understand why, in the case of those islands which are not actually British possessions, she should allow, as she has done, foreign nations to take possession of them, and yet refuse to pei'mit her own childrou to do so. By allowing the British colonies in these seas to occupy such of the islands of the Pacific as thoy are williug to undertake the administration of, the Empiro would spread in the most natural and effective way, at no cost whatever to the mother country. British commerce would exteud rapidly, be fostered under most favourable conditions, whilst the inhabitants of the colony that is willing to assume responsibilities of this kind would have their energies developed,—would have a field of enterprise and statesmanship opened to them, which would do much to form the character of the youthful nation, and raise up a people which would rellect credit ou the great country from which they sprung. It is probable that the British race caunot permanently be shut out from a great destiny in the Pacific and Eastern countries, that it must become tho ruling Power in those parts of the world. At a time when British statesmen admit that British commerce is declining, and are proposing to restore it by the doubtful plan of establishing a great commerce with Africa, it is difficult to understand why they should deliberately cast away a lucrative commerce, which would rapidly grow, and which here lies ready to their hand."