THE FEDERATION OF THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES. (From the Daily Times, Jan. 11.)

Otago Witness, Issue 685, 14 January 1865, Page 2

THE FEDERATION OF THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES. (From the Daily Times, Jan. 11.)

It is curious that whilst in New Zealand an attempt is being made to divide the Colony into smaller distinct governments, the British North American Colonies are taking steps for their union into a powerful federation. It would be very difficult indeed to draw any parallel between the conditions of the North American Colonies and New Zealand. In the one case we have an old established, welldeveloped, and populous Colony seeking to unite with itself a number of contiguous smaller Provinces for . mutual strength, smd as one step towards the establishment ,of an independent and powerful State. It as clearly and unmistakably to the inte-

reat,of the North America Colonies to unite, asit i$ to the colonists of the Middle Hand of NewlZealand to Separate from the; North. There; is a cdfmmdnity of Jnterestp'in the British. North American Colonies that does not obl&in in New Zealand. Each has progressed at an amazing iate, and the interchanged commerce and communication between them is so extensive that although not politically united they may be almost considered one colony. Financially their condition is tolerably similar, the debt of each is nearly as possible proportionately equal and each has a surplus in -its Treasury. The process o! fusing these prosperous colonies into a powerful State is therefore attended by no difficulties. The only argument that it would be fair to deduce from the movement in Northern America to apply to the contemplated Separation of the New Zealand Islands is this : That if the tune should arrive when it would be for their interest to re-unite no obstacle would stand in the way of their doing so. This at any rate disposes of the objections of those who pretend to see in Separation a fatal blow struck at the future greatness of an independent New Zealand. It may be asked what are the reasons to induce the desire for the amalgamation of the British American Colonies. In one sense the movement may be considered the natural result of rapid development 'and prosperity, fostered by the enjoyment of large powers of self-government. With the possession of the necessary conditions, arises spontaneously the desire of _ the people to cease to be mere colonists, and to become citizens of a powerful nation. That the five Colonies it is proposed to unite do possess these conditions will be presently 'see. Already their population exceeds 3,700,000— a larger population than Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Hanover, or Greece, while said Mr Brown, at a recent meeting at Halifax, the increase by immigration is so rapid that in two or three years the Colonies would be more populous than Belgium, or Bavaria, and in ten years contain probably ten millions of people, This calculation was not a mere theoretical extravagance, but was based on properly ascertained data, and regarded as a certainty. As to territory, it is practically endless, and including the Hudson Bay territory and the Pacific Colony of Columbia, which in time will no doubt join the federation, will be one-third more extensive than the whole of the American States. The revenue of the new State is estimated at nearly three millions sterling, although the taxation of the population has not reached twenty shillings per head per annum. Its exports exceed £26,000,000 per annum, " while the annual out-turn of " agricultural produce," says a recent writer, " is, exclusive of mines, fisheries, I " manufactures, and all other sources of " wealth, ofiicially estimated at £30,000,000, " or an average of at least £50 per house. " Good land, twic* the quantity of thatin " tillage, is already in private hands, and '- there is the wilderness, with its endless " capabilities still at the disposal of the " local Governments." As to the defensive force of the colonies, they already contain 300,000 able bodied men, between 20 and 45 years of age, and of these Mr Brown calculates "at least 250,000 between 20 " and 30 could be trained as Volunteers " accustomed to the use ol arms, and turned " out at need." There is also a valuable element in the population in the shape of 70,000 sailors] and fishermen, whilst the boundless supply of timber, and the already very extensive ship buUding appliaaces would make the formation of a fleet a question of no difficulty whatever. No doubt one prime object of this projected union is mutual protection and defence. At the Halifax banquet, Mr M'Donald tlius put the case:— "Here we " are in the presence of a large nation, and " one that has developed its military power " in a most marvellous degree, connected "by one tie only— -that of common allegi- " ance. As far as ourselves are concerned, "we have no political connection, and " are as wide apart as British America is "from Australia. We are liable, -if " America and England differ, to be " cut pff one by one, not having " any common means of defence." And there can be no doubt that this feeling of danger prompts the desire to unite. The idea of absorption into the United States has long been abandoned in Canada even by the most ultra-radicals, and if the Northern States should ever be foolish enough to attempt the forcible annexation of the British Northern. American Colonies they would meet with desperate resistance. But as the chief element of danger from American invasion lays in the fact of the Canadas being British possessions, the independence which may sooner or later follow the projected federation would remove it. There does not appear to be the least reason to apprehend the failure of the federation movement. The delegates from the various colonies interested, have agreed cordially on most of the bases of union, and Lord Monck the Governor General of Canada, haa invited

delegates from all the fi\e Colonies tcrmeet at Montreal and discuss thVbefet pli^ff for, completing the Union. The project, has the approval of the Imperial Government and the English people,- so that in all probability in a few months hence, ' a new and powerful federation will have been created on the American Continent.