The Oamaru Mail TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1903.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8292, 22 September 1903, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1903.

The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Mr Seddon, adopted a very proper course last evening in taking cognisance of the retirement of Mr Chamberlain from the Imperial Ministry. Under ordinary circumstances, objection might rightly be taken to a colonial Parliament interfering in the party politics of the Mother Countiy. But the occasion is not on© of an ordinary nature, nor is Mr Chamberlain's relation to the colonies of a commonplace character. To the colonies, indeed, his retirement from the position of Colonial Secretary is an event of more than, passing interest. He was the first Secretary of State for the Colonies to form a true conception of the significance of the great Colonial Empire, and the potential power of a world-wide Empire bound together by the bonds of mutual regard and interest as well as the ties of kindred. He was animated by the true Imperial <spirit, and recognised that the colonies were capable, under a wise development of that spirit, of becoming sources of great strength to the Mother Land. To the development of that spirit he devoted himself in a whole-hearted manner, and as a necessity he gave to the colonies a place and an importance in national affairs and life higher and greater than had previously been conceived His policy" was not only in striking contrast to that of the Little Englanders, but was a step in advance upon the most- ambitious aspirations of the most advanced thinkers at Home in respect to- the relations' that should subsist between the Mother Country and the outposts of the Empire. Doubtless Mr Chamberlain was helped on the way by the spontaneous manner in which the colonies sprang to the aid of the Mother Country at the most trying and critical point of the South African war, but it may be questioned if there would have been such an outpouring of moral sympathy and material support had not Mr Chamberlain's previous recognition of the importance of the. colonies created an all pervading Imperial sentiment. Mr Chamberlain lias raised the colonies to their rightful place in the Empire, and it is in full accord with the fitness of things that his retirement from office should be made the occasion for an expression of appreciation of the magnificent service that he has rendered. As thera have been; occasions when colonial Parliaments, constrained to protest strongly against the action of .Secretaries of State for the Colonies, have been readily pronounced well within their rights in so protesting, so must it be conceded that they can, without unduly invading the realm of Home party politics, very properly express appreciation of igood service. If was gratifying to find men upon both sides of the.House vieing with each other in warmth of tribute to Mr Chamberlain and in a frank and full avowal of their recognition of his services as Colonial Secretary. The only matter for regret in connection with the pleasant business is that Messrs Bedford and Ell should have supplied a discordant note to spoil the harmony. But it is gratifying to find that they received no sympathy from the House in the peculiar and petty position they took up. Their display of circumscribed mental vision on .such an occasion must have the effect of largely discounting the value of tlipir opinions upon other subjects, and so militate against their usefulness._ Mr Duthie, whom the Premier desif?nate"d the stormy petrel of New Zealand politics, also opposed the motion, and Mr George Fisher, who has assumed the role of mentor-in-chief, 'apparently thought the House were going beyond the limits of their functions, but "neither of these members went th-° length of voting against the resolution". We cannot agree with them that there was any impropriety in the House taking cognisance of the retirement from office of an Imperial Minister for the Colonies who had formed the hisrhest conception of'the magnificent possibilities of Empire, and devoted his talents and energies to the elevation of the colonies to a proper place in the Imperial fabric. The resolution submitted was one that should have commanded the unanimous approval of the House. But the fact that upon a. division Messrs, Tiedford and Ell stood alone- eives to the resolution a more pointed significance, and in that way they probably performed an acceptable service.