THE EMPIRE.

Southland Times, Issue 17232, 31 December 1912, Page 4

THE EMPIRE.

In regard to Imperial affairs the >ear has not been marked by any definite achievement of signal importance, but it has undoubtedly been marked by a strong general movement towards union. The question which has occupied most attention is that of Imperial Naval Defence, and in this connection a new chapter of momentous importance has been opened by Canada in providing a Pacific squadron of the British Navy. The scheme as explained by Mr Borden is one of co-operation combined with autonomy. Canada will find the money for the squadron, an amount exceeding £3,000,000, and it will be stationed in the Pacific under Admiralty control. In addition, Canada’s east coast will be visited regularly by an Atlantic squadron, and a Canadian representative will take a seat upon the Commlt-•-~«e of Imperial Defence. The appoint- [ ment of an oversea representative upon the Defence Commute is an inno-

vation that may lead ultimately to the constitution of a Committee truly Imperial in character, and to the solution of the problem of unity of control. The Canadian agreement is merely a phase of the general movement towards union. It is recognised that the independence of the self-govern-ing dominons must in no sense be qualified, and yet it is also recognised that for the safety of the Empire in time of war there should be a controlling body capable of directing the Empire’s naval defences on a common plan. As the oversea dominions grow in population and wealth they will inevitably find it necessary to maintain local naval forces. Australia has already made a beginning with her fleet. The new Pacific squadron provided by Canada will develop into a Canadian fleet, for, as the cost increases the principle that those who find the money should exercise control will demand recognition. South Africa has not yet determined what course she will follow, hut in the natural order of things she will adopt the Canadian plan. Ere long Canada will be a nation of 20,000,000 people, Australia should grow with equal rapidity, and these countries will hold no mean position among the Powers of the world. Obviously, care must be taken to prevent embarrassment to the Empire from the development of Australian, Canadian or South African policy. A quarter of a century hence it may be quite possible for Australia in pursuance of her White Australia policy to involve the Empire in war. It is equally obvious that some method must be found of securing co-opera-tion between the British Navy and the navies of the oversea dominions for the defence of the whole Empire, and the maintenance of supremacy on'all the peas. The problem is one of great complexity, but its solution will be found by conference between the Governments of the oversea dominions and the British Government Before the Canadian Government decided its policy its representatives, went to London for consultation with the Admijalty authorities. The Massey Government of New Zealand, partly with a view to the announcement of its policy next year, has sent the Hon. James Allen to London, and he also will discuss the question with the Admiralty officers. It is this search for a basis of opinion that is the most promising sign of the times, and though nothing has been actually achieved in 1912, the year has undoubtedly seen a marked development of Imperial sentiment and a marked advance towards Imperial

unity. With respect to Imperial trade the oversea dominions have been working steadily in the direction of reciprocal agreement. Canada and Australia are negotiating a reciprocal agreement with a view to mutual trade assistance. Australia and New Zealand will shortly open negotiations with the same object in view. The dominions realise that they can assist each other. All of them are protected countries, and therefore, they are able to offer each other tariff preferences that will materially assist trade. Each dominion is represented in the others by commercial emissaries whose duty it is to watch the course of trade and promote the interchange of those commodities which the dominions are adapted to supply among themselves. The counterpart of trade agreements between the dominions should of course be found in agreements between the dominions and the Borne Country, but so long as Britain clings to her present fiscal policy, a scheme of Imperial preference will be impossible. An Empire Trade Commission was set up at the beginning of the year, but preferential trade within the Empire was excluded from its order of reference. The main hope lies in the progress of the tariff reform in Britain, and during the year the cause has advanced both in the country and in the Unionist party. The Unionist party is now pledged irrevocably to give tariff reform a foremost place in Its platform. During these last two months tariff reform has been the most discussed subject in British politics, and Mr Bonar Law’s speeches have left no room for doubt as to his position. The Unionist party will tell the electorate that a Customs tariff is necessary to Britain for two reasons. The first of these is the protection of the Home market with a view to better wages, more constant employment and a general improvement in the standard of living; the second is the protection of Imperial trade by a system of preferential agreements with the dominions. Mr Bonar Law has been pointing out that the whole civilised world is protectionist with the solitary exception of Britain, and that by means of their tariffs Britain’s rivals can offer inducements to the dominions which Britain herself cannot offer. The growing enthusiasm of the Unionists under Mr Bonar Law’s leadership is one of the brightest features of the year, and it promises well for the uL timate attainment of the ideal of an Imperial trade union which will use the enormous trade resources of the Empire for the development of the Empire and the ’Maintenance of its prosperity.