THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1106, 12 May 1893, Page 38

THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

Had Sir Charles Tupper said that there are people who regard the Imperial Institute as maiiily intended for the purpose of levying contributions on the colonies, in support of the Imperial Army and Navy, he would have had nothing to withdraw. The fact that there are such people is too notorious. They belong to the fighting nart of. a fighting race. Their minds are always in uniform, to them war is still the ' sport of kings,' for them Imperial Federation is a binding together of the Empire for fighting purposes. When Mr Dalley sent 600 Australians to the Soudan, the federationists of this sort thought little of the patriotism of a colony, but said a great deal about the moral effect of showing Europe a new British recruiting ground. When conscription is the law of every land over which the British flag floats, then, in their eyes, there will be nothing left to wish for in the matter of Imperial unity. But these people do not represent anybody but themselves, and they are not numerous. Their idead are not the ideas of the majority, nor are they the ideas of any of the leaders on either side of politics. That a man usually so well informed as Sir Charles Tupper should have thought otherwise affords a rather grave subject for thought. He has withdrawn his statement of opinion, however, and it is better to accept his withdrawal as correct than to think deeply about his statement. We will therefore dismiss it with the remark that ao much nonsense has been talked about the army and navy in connection with the Imperialist Institute, that the

alarm felt by Sir Charles Tupper was certainly the most natural thing in the world. The Colonial Governments have, it is needless to say, a very different reason for supporting the Imperial Institute. Tho Institute ought to show the world what each colony is like, by displaying samples of its various resources, natural and industrial, and keeping the display up to. date of latest and most important progress. In that respect the Institute is a magnificent advertisement for each colony represented. That means a great deal, and the meaning increases daily. The great rival of the British Colonies, the American Union, is getting filled up, and Canada is not a desirable country for the British emigrant ; the colonies of Australasia and South Africa are being understood and appreciated with an effect which increases from day to day ; while at the same time the teeming hive of Great Britain keeps up the supply of energetic spirits bent on seeking fortunes in distant fields. The Imperial Institute is therefore destined to play a very powerful directing part in the development of Australasian colonisation. A good advertisement in that institution will be a very profitable investment, therefore. That department is in good hands, viz., those of Sir W. Buller and Mr Perceval. Representation will have another advantage. The council of the Institute is the only Imperial Council throughout the Empire. In its room of meeting assemble two representatives from every self-governing colony, one from each Crown Colony, twelve representatives of the United Kingdom appointed by the Queen, six appointed by the Heir Apparent, together with certain holders of high station, such as the Lord Mayor, the chairman of the London County Council and the governor of the Bank of England. In the governing room of the Institute, colonial enterprise meets the best talent of Statecraft, local government and finance which the Old Country can produce. What can be more conducive to the growth of Imperial unity on a basis of mutual understanding and mutual forbearance 1 In the Institute the whole Empire must, before long, accept a valuable factor for the development of the Imperial idea, which is the grandest idea of modern times. For these two very special and very practical reasons the Imperial Institute deserves the cordial support of every British colony. '.