FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22191, 19 August 1935, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

PLACE IN THE PACIFIC NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION The distinctive position of New Zealand iii the Pacific, as apart from Australia, was becoming recognised naif a century ago. Approval of this tendency was expressed in the New Zealand Herald of August 19, 1885, m discussing a proposal to place squadrons of the British Navy under the control of the various colonies. " The point which is deserving special notice is that a Pacific squadron is referred to as distinct from a" Australian squadron and that t" 0 entrusting of its direction to Zealand is spoken of as. a matter of course," .it was stated. "This is the first time that this colony has, in the public opinion of England, been spoken of as having n mission peculiarly its own in the Pacific. It is an indication that in any scheme which may ultimately be resolved on, New Zealand is likely to w assigned a distinctive position. . . " The same tendency in British circles, to regard this colony as bcmg called, by virtue of its geographical position, to occupy a sphere of influence different from that belonging to the continental States of Australia, 13 discernible in the relation she has been regarded as holding to the Federal Council Bill. The question of un'ting the Australian colonies into a federn union seems by common, consent t have been viewed as one in which Zealand has no particular interest.