LORD BRASSEY ON FEDERATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7930, 22 July 1887, Page 4

LORD BRASSEY ON FEDERATION.

With regard to federation, Lord Brassey (says the Sydney Morning Herald) holds it to be indispensable to the greatness of the mother country and grsatly to the advantage of the colonies that all should be closely connected together as one empire. Looking at the matter from a colonial point of view, he thinks the maintenance of the connection gave to the colonies, first of all, the immense advantage of being protected under the shield of a great empire, instead of being brought into contact with some great Powers which they could not face on equal terms. Then there was the citizenship of a large empire, which carried with it a far wider scope and far ampler field for each individual than the citizenship of a small state. There was a sentiment about it which he thought ennobling. Then there were administrative advantages which must not be overlooked. It could not be said that the local interests of Sydney were in any instance neglected, yet they had the advantages associated with the membership in a great empire. The facilities for raising loans for local purposes were greater, under existing arrangements, for he did not believe that the colonies would get so much money upon such easy terms in London if they separated from England as they did now. A federated Australia was sure to come. Local jealousies would disappear; they were fast dyingout. Thelocal jealousies existing in Canada years ago were intense, but they had been overcome. The colonies could combine a system of provincial Government on lesser matters, with a government acting for the whole federation dealing with larger questions. That practice had answered well in Canada, and he was encouraged to believe that a solution of the problem on the same lines would be found practicable in Australia. The Imperial Conference was a step in the right direction, and the questions that had been satisfactorily adjusted were proof apparent of the good that would result from it. The success of it would encourage the Home Government to appeal again and again to the colonies for their advice in all matters in which they were jointly interested ; and by-and-by it would lead to the establishment of some permanent council of the empire to which any issue in which the colonies might be involved could be referred. This would gradually—as the colonies grew in importance in their relation to the old country, possessing as they did all the elements of greatness and progress, while the motherland was circumscribed in area—bring about a simplification of foreign policy, and lead to the abstention of England from embroglios with other nations; from troubles in which she was not immediately concerned.