THE FEDERATION OF THE COLONIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6818, 24 September 1883, Page 6

THE FEDERATION OF THE COLONIES.

TO THE EDITOR. ''j' , your Wellingtonriews it is decided .that Major Atkinson is to bo the New;- Zealand;, representative at the .conference shortly to take, pi,ice to discuss the subject of colonial federation. It is.much .to be deplored that the party now in power in New Zealandfcould not have .seen their way to sink , for the moment all party and purely selfish considerations; and have solicited the one man south of thel/'ne, who above all others is pro eminently fitted to preside over -and:.wisely direct. a confer-. ;ence of this, nationally, important to act as oar representative. Sir George Grey is the one man of all others who could rise to the .occasion,;and keepiog the one great end of the consolidation of the Empire in view, could sweep away ■, all i.petty. colonial and parochial jealousies, and make the resultbf the conference a grand leading point, in the history of our ration; one that future ages would look back upon as . the initial step which led to unification of all; r ,the.:.-' English speaking peoples and the completion of our Empire, which woi'ld coerce the nations for their good, carrying with her flag constitutional rights, civilisation, Chistianity, aud freedom to all men. \ Everyone connected with, or interested in, New Zealand politics knows that Major Atkinson is a man of very narrow views; he is. a purely local politician,, and there;is nothing of the statesman about him. He may, and will, very likely, honourably enough

an end; his seat will be a back?,™ ?*» . that of the presiding geninToVtfc ' Bo & would undoubted]/bfZ 3 G e 2j?S*« place were he our representative R^ 1, ? * ' IB the meaning of thiscwifereiice, "anSUS* does it tend ! , r~sv° W&tL In the minds of most people it mn , conference to consider tho best m "' * ' federating the colonies of AtutrababES -°J I turn and unification of the Emrirl vV *" ml ultimately doubtless lead to unification of all the Kngfcfc peoples. 6 a .peasiag j Colonial federation will be a mern „*, without e,ther a Federal Parliament j> < penal representation ; and th«Ttl Inu difficult, P and apparentlySffi fe*}* with, as it is in ndity far easierW PP l e tamed than the former. ° be a *» . f h . e S'fat difficulty connected with ml legislaimn lies in the apparent na & lmess of an Imperial Parliament com D( S .representatives elected fairly whole Empire. This is a' diffiouVv"*& must sooner or later be met, and solvS Imperial representation does note-,. Pitchforking oue unfortunate represent from each colony on to the loor of S? Stephen's, where they would be hopeW- 1 outnumbered and practically useless ■ ntitol does it mean investing, a fussy imbecile £? showy uniform; calling him an Aceut-Gei i£>> and forming him and his broisea A«. 7£* Ueneral into a council, to submit inauf at | moranda to the Secretary for the ColonL? Imperial representation means an \ rial Parliament composed of members Acm throughout the whole of the Empire, forrt purpose of discEssing and legislating matters of purely Imperial interest TV body ceed not be numerous, and Qr«? Britain and her colonies would atill enSJ local self government to the fullest esV-7 and each one legislate for its own local » quirements. e * . The British House of Commons as at m> sent constituted ean never become a trntJ Imperial Parliament, neither as a matte* fact does it attempt to grapple with neat national questions. The jßritiah OibioetfoJ the time being is really the Imperial P«. hament, they declare war and mike cei™ < without consulting the people's represent* tives, they annex ialands and continents or disallow colocial annexation, all of their o»n sweet wilL The Secretaries of the ColonS can drive a coiony to desperation and to the verge of rebellion without ever letting P» liament behind the scenes, and, indeed wW '< Parliament is consulted the members take. « very half hearted interest in matters that do « not directly concern the United Kingdom. I I remember well, for I was in Londtiuat I the debate that took place in the flonae of 1 Commons on the subject of Messrs. Bell and i Featherstone'a mission borne.. The3e two ! gentlemen were sent to point out to the home > Government that the removal of all the = troops from New Zealand was a measure so strongly resented by the colonists that i£ that ' course was persisted in, it might lead to the separation of this colony from the mother country. The Gladstone-GranviUe Cabinet declined to be either charmed or bluffed by the New Zealand Ambassadors, and insisted I on the withdrawal of the troops. . f The matter was brought up in Parliament and many, I for one, expected an interesting and exciting debate, but as it turned out nothing could have been more flat, stupii and yawney. The House was thin, membett were listless, very few took patt in the debate, and the whole thing to a colonial was painfully dejecting. The next night, however, there was a debate on a Gas Bill, and the difference ia the House that night compared with thepre. viou3 one was marvellous. The Hoase was ) crowded, the debate prolonged and animated and everyone was bright and lively. * It seems to be the general idea that the House of Commons must of necessity he. come the Imperial Parliament, but I think it will be seen that our Imperial Parliament must be a body differently constituted, and with very different functions to those appertaining to the British House of Commons.— I am, &c.j "■ ' . Empirs,