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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 170, 24 August 1914, Page 4

Sundry ardent Imperialists, whose enthusiasm for the Empire has completely run away with their judgment, are telling the public that the war has completely disproved any suggestion the various Dominions are destined some day to reach a state of complete national independence. Needless to .say, it has done nothing of the kind, nor docs it in the slightest degree contribute towards the solution of the difficult problem which arises through the Dominions being vested with the privileges of independent States in so far as the regulation of their fiscal policy is concerned, while it is left to their option ,to make what contribution they please to the Imperial defence forces, which are the bulwark of their national security. Sir Wilfrid Laurier's opinion is quoted in this connection, but it proves nothing at all, because Canada has for years, made independence her goal, and has made no effort whatever to find a basis for Imperial federation; nor has she done anything at all to assist in the naval defence of the Empire. The real position is that the whole Empire has united to make war on a common enemy, but that is all. No One knows better than Sir Wilfrid Laurier that if England had gone to war with France instead of Germany, the Canadian attitude would have been very different, and instead of there being unity there would have been disruption as far as Canada was concerned. The war will certainly tend to emphasise the advantages of unity in matters of defence, but it cannot remove fundamental difficulties in the way of achieving political unity, be the Imperial drum banged ever so loudly.