THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 1967. THE PREMIER'S MISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13396, 26 January 1907, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 1967. THE PREMIER'S MISSION.

Sir Joseph Ward leaves Auckland on Monday fur London, where he will attend the Colonial Conference as the representative of New Zealand. How important, this mission is may be gathered from the regrettable fact that this occasional conference is the only opportunity yet afforded to the representatives of Greater Britain to officially discuss the many important questions which affect the colonies and to formally present their collective opinion to the Imperial Government. Into a few short days have to be i crowded the most momentous and , far-reaching discussions, the effect. of which extends to many millions of colonial British and, in a manner, to hundreds of millions of the subject races. It is evident, there- ' fore, that the value of these Colon- ! ial Conferences depends entirely I upon the fitness of those who attend them, and it is gratifying to know j I that in Sir Joseph Ward New Zea- | land has a representative who will I help to maintain the deservedly high standing of these gatherings. He wiU meet statesmen of international reputation, like Sir Wilfred Lauricr, and join forces with men like Mr. Deakin, but we do not fear to say that no colony will be better represented than ours. For though Sir Joseph Ward has not the unique personality of Mr, Seddon— whose loss will be necessarily felt by the Colonial Conference, for therdf was no duplicate personality in this or any other colony—he is equally representative of New Zealand Imperialism and a statesman of wide knowledge in politics and of broad knowledge in men. All our colonial parties will agree upon his fitness for the task before him, for he is an Imperialist upon practical business lines, an unflinching advocate of British colonial rights, and a convinced believer in the necessity i for and value of the Imperial or- ! ganisation. His knowledge of the I needs of the colony is as extensive l as that of any man whom it would be possible to find, while his experience in statescraft is as full as can be expected of any colonial premier. It is a. pleasure to be able to pass from the inevitable differences of opinion that occur in local politics to the broader and less confused range of Imperial questions and to feel that when Sir Joseph Ward leaves Auckland on his mission to London lie goes not as a mere party leader, but as the accepted and acknowledged spokes j man of all loyal New Zealanders. ! We are sure thai this feeling is eorI dially and completely reciprocated. ! and. that it will inspire and streugthI en our colonial representative in the ! difficult and arduous task which I awaits him at the end of his jourI ney. Now thai Sir Joseph Ward is with us in Auckland, however, we must take the opportunity of touching briefly upon the most pressing of local questions, which has such a tremendous bearing upon our colonial progress and prosperity. We refer to the Native Lands question. It: is not only certain that the lock-ing-tip of such considerable areas of first-class farming land must most seriously retard the development of the North and the general prosperity of the colony, but it is equally certain that during the long term of I (he Administration inherited by Sir I Joseph Ward the solution of the ; problem has been over and over again evaded and retarded. Sir Joseph Ward assures us that a sincere attempt is now being made to solve the native land question. We believe a Commission to be unnecessary, but we none the less freely j admit that the names of the mem- | hers appointed are unexceptional ! and evidence of a, determination to end, if possible upon these lines, the present most unsatisfactory state of affairs. While the Premier is absent something will be done towards | clearing away the confusions and j difficulties that, hamper the whole j question and wo trust that when he i meets Parliament, after his return,

he will follow up the work of the j Commission by introducing a practical measure for removing the great impediment to the fuller development of the North Island. Sir Joseph Ward can do nothing while in London for the solution of the Native Land question but he can do very much to promote immiI gration, which is becoming daily more evidently necessary. He will j have many opportunities, on the platform, in the banqueting hall, and through the press, to direct attention to the colony he represents and may thus bring prominently bej fore the British public the need of j New Zealand for more population. I The navvies employed on the Main ! Trunk construction have been en- ! quiring what they are to do when j it is completed, as though railway construction in the colony would stop with the completion of the Auckland-Wellington connection. Railways just as badly needed are being put off until money and men are available and in the meantime there is a clamour for men from every part of the colony and particularly throughout the North. Im- | portant engineering works and mining extensions are being delayed and the expansion of many industries is being absolutely checked, while the agricultural industry is being hampered in every direction | by the, same shortage of labour. I That is the industrial side of the j question, but there is a national side ■ which Sir Joseph Ward must keenly j appreciate. We are not strengthen- ; ing the garrison as wo might, during these exceptionally favourable years, not rendering it easy to carry a big population by steadily building up the industries that will support it | with ease and in comfort. Population is more important to us nil than as a mere lever for the increased production of wealth, important as that is to every colonist; it is necessary for the actual possession of the. colony by a British people, for the titles issued by our courts and the security guaranteed by our laws are not worth a day's purchase unless we can successfully resist invasion. We are all shoulder to shoulder with Sir Joseph Ward in his determination to keep this colony British, but we must have a sufficient British population if we would make that determination good. Australia is beginning to rouse itself on this question and Victoria is already propounding a scheme for the encouragement of immigrant land-settlers. Sir Joseph Ward's knowledge of the colony and practical business experience should enable him, in consultation with the High Commissioner, to devise a scheme which may assist our own immigration movement. Between | November and March—the earlier j the betterthere is no clanger what- ! ever of swamping the colonial j labour market and the expansion of I industry which would follow a suitJ able influx would prevent any perj ceptible reaction. We hope that Sir Joseph Ward will not lose sight of the immigration question amid the manifold claims upon his time and energies that will greet him in London.