THE COLONIES THROUGH ENGLISH EYES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4264, 25 January 1901, Page 2

THE COLONIES THROUGH ENGLISH EYES.

A RESERVOIR OF LIBERALISM. Mr Arthur Sherweil, the joint author with Mr Joseph Eowntree of the wellknown. book on "Temperance Reform anti the Social Problem,'' has just returned from a visit to the Australian colonies and New Zealand. He went out to the Anti podes last summer primarily to study the drink question as it exists in the lands beneath the Southern Cross. Mr Sherweil, however, (says the “Daily News" of November 16,) is a keen observer, and does not lose sight of the social problems which are so closely connected with the question of temperance reform. He had many opportunities during his visit of discussing Imperial and colonial questions with the leading men of Australasia, and has Drought back with him some very definite impressions concerning colonial life and its influence upon the future of the Empire. These he explained to a representative of the "Daily News" who met him shortly after his arrival in London. '’For some months you must have been looking at the Empire through a colonial atjuQsjAere, and at colonial life through English eyes. Has this double vision made you more hopeful or more despondent about the future of the Empire?’’* “I have come buck from Australia and Ivew Zealand with an increased faith in the English-speaking race, and a stronger belief in the great mission which lies before -the British Empire. In Australia you feel that the Empire is a reality. You aro conscious that it is oue of the great forces of the world’s life. You comjdetely lose the impression, the result of aeade mic discussion in the Old Counter, that the Empire is merely an idea, "if our leading men would visit the Empire before talking about it many of our difficulties would vanish. I have come bade firmly convinced that no man should he considered eligible for a position of trust in the Government of the Empire until bo has made a tour of the British colonies and dependencies. It should be made an indispensable qualification for office. Ido not think it is an unreasonable proposition. Men who have to govern an Empire should at least have, a practical knowledge of the subjects with which they have to deal.”

"Did j r ou find Australia feeling strongly in favour of the Imperial connection ?” "You cap. have no idea in England of the | intensity of the enthusiasm for the Empire which is everywhere prevalent in Australia and New Zealand. The Transvaal War has been an opportunity of expressing that feeling rather than the cause of its existence. I am bound to confess that a large measure of the credit for the warm feeling of the colonies for the Mother Country belongs to Mr Chamberlain. Wherever I went I found his popularity was immense. It is due, I think, not to his personality, but to the policy ho has inaugurated and carried out. He is spoken of as the first British statesman who has taken the colonies seriously. He has studied intelligently their point of view and met their wishes, whenever it has been possible to do so. without endangering the interests of the Empire. From what I saw and heard I believe the secret of Mr Chamberlain’s influence at the Antipodes is due to a conviction on the part of the colonist? that he will look at questions from the broad standpoint of the Empire, and not from the parochial one of tho United King dom alone. Any other statesman who had treated the colonies in tho same spirit would have evoked the same response. Mr Chamberlain has, very unfortunately, been allowed to monopolise the colonies.” "But surely Australia and New Zealand are object lessons in the successful working out of Liberal principles ?” "Of course. But Australians and New Zealanders look at British politics solely from the Imperial point of view. They feel drawn to the Conservatives, and repel led by the Liberal party, but this feeling | has nothing to do with the domestic polic: of cither party. The more I saw of the Australian colonies the stronger became my conviction that they are a great reservoir of Liberal principles. The Liberal party at Home would be greatly strengthened if it could be closely connected by tie? of close sympathy with these young countries, which are already practising many of the schemes which have not passed the stage of advocacy in the Old Country ! Colonial influence noon English life and politics must be a Liberal influence, and would be an invaluable reinforcement to Liberalism in this country if Liberals generally were clear-sighted enough to recognise the fact. New Zealand especially is becoming the political laboratory of the Empire, where social and legislative experiments can bo tested before they are adopted by older and more densely peopled lands.”

“Looking at Australia through Englis! spectacles, what impressed you most in the new world at the Antipodes?’’ “The great latent possibilities which lie buried in the colonies. The same thing struck me very forcibly when I visited Canada last year. The future belongs tc these great undeveloped countries. There is a buoyancy and elasticity in Australian life which reminded me of America. The Australian colonies, too, seemed to mo to be developing- along American rather than ; British lines. The achievements of the i colonists have been wonderful. When walking through the streets of Melbourne I found myself wondering again and again whether the city could really have grown up in two generations. The colonies have a great recuperative force, and seemed to have entirely recovered from the groat crash of a few years ago.’’ rias the approaching federation of Australia had any effect upon the public life of the colonies?’’

“The effect has been very remarkable. It is bringing about the growth of a national feeling which did not exist before. People all over Australia are taking broader views, and looking at questions from a wider standpoint. But federation is bringing with it one danger. The Federal Parliament will attract all the best men from the various colonies, and will leave only second and third-rate men to control the State Legislatures. The weak spot.in Australian political life is the dearth of capable men who will take an interest in politics. AH present there are not enough first-rate men to go round. Unless a sense of their duties to the community can be awakened in the young men of the colAies there is a dan ger that while the Commonwealth as a whole will gain by federation, the component States will lose. Very much, too will depend upon the men who are appointed to represent the Imperial Govern ment at the State capitals." “Bid you see anything of the working of old-age pensions, woman suffrage, and other new departures in the field of legislation ?” “Yes, especially in New Zealand, where I spent a considerable portion of my time. I think most of the innovations, such as industrial arbitration, old age pensions, and woman suffrage have come to stay, it should not be forgotten, however, that they have all been launched in a time of great prasperity, and have not undergone the ordeal of hard times. The colonies undoubtedly supply me with plenty or foot for reflection. The most interesting sigr I saw in New Zealand was_ the old Araorif coming up to the post offices t o be pa if the monthly instalments of their old age pensions. It was a very significant inci dent, and made a deep impression on my mind. The coloured man, instead of beinj. omitted from the scheme, stands on ar equal footing with his white brother, ant

receives his pension as punctually as the white man. The working of woman s suffrage in New Zealand appears to have Dispelled the hope of the reformers that in the women voters there was a great force which could be used for carrying oitf social reforms. The women of New Ze, land have voted, but they seem to hat . taken their political opinions from tn husbands. The temperance party has : ' benefited by the adoption of woman s I frage, although temperance reform 1 hoped great tilings from their support “You did not see any inflation of a . , action against State interference in fi affairs of the community? "No. The English visitor is struck by ’ the general acceptance of the principle ; of State control by all sections ol the , community. Municipal lifd seemed to me to have suffered somewhat in consequence. At the Antipodes the tendency ' is all in the direction of nationalisation ! rather than of municipahsation. Iho , central Government has direct, contro- over ’ matters which with ns would be dealt null jby County and Town Councils. l a ere seems also to me to"fce soma danger it t uc ’ pace of social legislation is forced that the capital may be driven away. The colonial 1 working man’s ideas go through no process , of evolutionary development, and capital 1 is apt to be frightened by such rnpiu art- ' vances in the direction of State socialism 1 as have taken place during the last lew 1 years.” “Do vou see anv rocks ahsad in the relation between the Mother Country and • the Australasian colonies?” 1 “Only the old cause of most of our difficulties —ignorance. At present tho rela- ' tions between colony and motherland arc ! all that can bo desired, but in the future ‘ we must beware of ignoring colonial in--1 forests. Ignorance about the colonies is ' at present both very great arid very general. I have heard amusing stories about • the questions which were asked in all : seriousness of the federal delegates when on their visit to this country. Here, for 3 instance, is one example. One of the delegates was staying at a large country house, and overheard the youthful son : and heir say to his mother, 'Oh. mamma, 5 I’m so disappointed! He talks just like I we do.’ There should he in Loudon a colonial council which could bo consulted 5 by the Government of the day. and which would represent the views of the colonies 5 with greater weight than what the isolated ■ Agent-General can do at present. I would 3 even go as far a.yjto advocate a .representative chosen by the colonies being given a ’’ seat in the Cabinet. It would be n first step towards the realisation of Imperial 8 Federation.”