THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1894.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9399, 4 January 1894, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1894.

A considerable amount of interest appears to be attached in England to the invitation sent by the Australian Colonies and New Zealand to the Duke and Duchess of York. The latest statement on the subject is that their Royal Highnesses regret very much being unable to visit Australia this year, but hope to be able to do so in 1695. The invitation has evidently been gratifying not only to the persons invited, but to Her Majesty, the Prince and Princess of Wa les, and the Government. " Domestic reasons" alone prevent the visit being carried out during the present year. The "domestic reasons " are that the Duchess expects her confinement about the middle of the year. The people of the colonies would, of course, like to see their future King and Queen, and they would no doubt give a specially hearty welcome to a lady in whose joys and sorrows they have taken so close an interest. The Duke of York stands in the direct succession to the Throne, and through him the line of the Monarchy will be continued. It is expedient that at the present time, before he is yet pressed upon by the ceremonial duties of the Crown, he should form a personal acquaintance with Greater Britain, with those parts of the Empire which lie beyond the sea. These colonies are not now regarded as mere offshoots, only temporarily attached to the Empire, to assume the position of independent nations whenever they believe it to be for their interest to do so. They are as much a part of Great Britain as Scotland is, and apparently they have more chance of continuing integral parts of the Empiregaining strength from it, and giving strengh to it—than Ireland. A visit to these colonies would show the heir to the Throne what manner of men we are, and what countries we hold and inhabit. By a visit he would gain a knowledge and insight which he could never obtain from descriptions. No amount of reading would give him the intimate acquaintance which he would obtain from a visit. And we might naturally expect that, in consequence of the acquaintance which he would make of these countries and their resources, he would retain throughlifeadeep interestin their affairs and their progress, which would be a great benefit to them. His father, the Prince of Wales, travelled in Canada and India, and we have no doubt he will be anxious that his son should continue a laudable policy on the part of the heir apparent, and should commence with the latest group of colonies of the British Crown, which promise, indeed, to become the most truly English of them all. We shall all be delighted to see the heir apparent and his young wife. All that we know of them is good. May they reign over a happy and united people, and enjoy the highest domestic felicity ! But the visit is not necessary to confirm our loyalty. That is founded not on any such sentiment as led men in old times to sacrifice all their wealth and to put their lives in peril for. the Stuart kings, but on the substantial foundation of our own welfare and prosperity. We know that we are as free in every respect as if each colony flew the flag of a Republic. , We know that nothing could be more detrimental to our interests than a separation from the Empire. We live by our trade with Great Britain, whose ports are open to receive without tax or toll what we can send. There is no talk now of " cutting the painter." Sir Henry Parkes spoke what may be called the national sentiment of these colonies when he said, " An Englishman I was born, and an Englishman I will die." Before these colonies had grown to power, Great Britain had learned a lesson of how to deal with colonies, and she has profited by it. Her action towards us has been noble and unselfish. We have grumbled occasionally, it is true-—that is a British privilege which we have brought with us—and perhaps sometimes we have had reason to complain. But on the whole England has been a gracious and kindly mother to us. We shall stand by the Empire, knowing that Great Britain, will defend these colonies with "the last ship and the last shilling." But a visit of the heir apparent should be made to do something more than merely to manifest our attachment to the Empire, and to show the results of wise colonial administration. The Daily News says that the visit' "would be a living symbol of unity which would assist federation." At the present time, the great hindrance to the advancement of these colonies lies, not in any policy of the Colonial Office, but in our own policy, which sets us to the miserable practice of " beggar my neighbour," injuring ourselves and

all our neighbours by hostile tariffs. A J visit from the heir-apparent might hasten the day when we would free ourselves from these injurious trammels, > and when, indeed, we might make the first step towards the great object of Imperial Federation. p ;• -in '■ ■i ■ ■ i n ■