THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1907. OUR NEW NAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13483, 6 July 1907, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1907. OUR NEW NAME.

Though a good deal' has been said of late regarding the proposed change in the colony's official designation, there is one aspect of the question which has attracted little notice. We have heard much about the political gains accruing from the proposed change, but we have seen nothing respecting the peculiar fitness of the term ''Dominion" as defining New Zealand's status- in the Empire. The phrase "British Dominions" is a familiar one, and we all hailed with satisfaction a few years ago that addition to the Royal title which proclaimed the (Sovereign's Kingship over "the British Dominions beyond the seas." In one sense, then, it is plain that each of these oversea lands under the rule of King Edward is a "dominion." This is quite irrespective of its size, population, or relative importance in the Empire, political, commercial, strategic, ■ or other. The smallest is as much a "dominion," in this sense, as the largest — little Newfoundland as great Canada. It is well to bear this in mind, as some people, misled by the hugeness of Canada and the smallness of New Zealand, have been rather disposed to ridicule the idea of calling this, little colony a "dominion," and have reminded us of what old $]sop taught us in our childhood's days about the folly of trying to appear bigger than we are. But size really has nothing to do with the matter ; it is essentially a question of political status. Let us pursue the investigation a stage further, however. When'we look closely into the literal meaning of the term "dominion"' we perceive at once that there is a sense in which it is by no means equally applicable to all the constituent parts of the Empire—one in which it may well be chosen to differentiate one class of colonies from another. The rootidea of the word is "lordship" or "sovereignty"—"domination," as it was understood, ' until, in course of time, a subtle distinction was made between that and other terms closely allied in fundamental meaning. The sovereignty inherent in the Kingship has, in the case of the British Empire, been in a large measure delegated to certain portions of it, which are practically their own rulers and masters, subject only to such wise reservations in their several Constitutions as seemed necessary to remind them that they were not absolutely independent, but that there were limits to the exercise of their powers, and that they were still part of the King's dominions. Those who do not exercise this sovereignty cannot be "dominions" in the technical sense that the others arc, and we see at once that the classification of colonies into dominions and Crown colonies tantamount to self-govern-ing and Home-governed coloniesis a logical and convenieiit one. Hitherto we > have been content with the term "self-governing colonies." The title was an expressive one, telling a plain tale and carrying its meaning on the face of it. The only real objection to it was its cum-; brousness. Dominion" has the merit of being more concise, and of telling a precisely similar story to those able to trace the word back through all its allied forms" domain," "demesne," etc.— down to the root from which they all spring "dominus," the owner and master, the lord of the "domain."

Great as their powers of , selfgovernment are, the colonies wielding them are reminded at every turn that they have, in a very real sense, an overlord, part of whose dominions they are. Their Governors are his nominated personal representatives, their Ministers are His Majesty's Ministers, their judges His . Majesty's judges, their legislators have all to take the oath of fidelity to the Sovereign, their legislation must in all its essentials conform to the common law of England. Nevertheless, they are, in all matters of vital importance to their own well-being, free-handed, unfettered by precedents, and able to create them for themselves. Thus in themselves they exercise real dominion, and may fittingly be so designated. The idea of so classifying them seems to have emanated from the practical mind of New Zealand's Premier at the late Conference in London, and to have commended itself to the Imperial authorities as a very convenient, sensible proposal. When closely looked into there seems more to be said for it than many of our contemporaries imagine, and more, too, than some of our legislators are aware of. We note that the mover of the Address-in-.Reply, while expressing his willingness to vote for the Premier's resolution, could offer no better reason for doing so than that it could do no harm, though ho failed to see any positive good in it. .When the Premier speaks to the resolution he may be expected, as the author of the proposed new classification, .to educate members' minds on the matter. Apparently they need it. By the new title New Zealand will assert her claim to be a colony of the first class, possessed of the full measure of Sovereign powers accorded to others,; and, de-

spite her disparity in size, their political peer, as much entitled to a distinct. voice on Imperial questions as any other part of the King's wide Empire can be. - And considering her sacrifices in the Empire's cause there is no presumption in all this. It will be remembered that Sir Joseph Ward, as PostmasterGeneral, successfully contended for New Zealand's right as a self-govern-ing State to exercise e separate vote at the Rome Conference on postal questions. ■'; This was all a part of. the policy embodied in the adoption of the title "dominion." Of course the title is merely an officia' one. It will not supplant "colony" in the popular speech. We remain a colony still. No change of name can alter that fact. We shall still be "colonists" and look at Imperial matters from the " colonial" standpoint. Those convenient terms can never be supplanted by any derivatives from the word "dominion." All things considered we cannot but think that Canada was guided by a wise instinct in adopting the term as her official designation when the North American colonies set the rest of the Empire the example of federating. Though not adopted by federated Australia it well might have been. Indeed, the term "dominion" seems preferable in some ways to "Commonwealth," and also to " Confederacy," which the South African colonies when federated are thought likely to adopt. ■ These terms tend somewhat to obscure the colonial idea. Dominion expresses more clearly our relation to the central authority of the Empire, reminds us that we are an integral part of the King's dominions and have corresponding Imperial responsibilities, and it provides a convenient designation for that class of colonies which are to a very large degree Sovereign States and exempt from the often mischievous, because ignorant, dictation of the Colonial Office. We certainly think New Zealand is wise in following Canada's lead, and hope that other parts of the Empire will, by and by, come, into line with the lands of the maple leaf and the feru, and accept their official classification as Dominion as their most appropriate and descriptive political designation.