IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143451, 11 March 1911, Page 2

IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

AN INTERESTING ADDRESS. An interesting address on “Imperial B’ederation ” was delivered in the Theatre Royal last night by Mr. A. S. Malcolm, AI.F. for Clutha. The Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch) was in the chair, and Mr. H. Okey, M.P., was also on the platform. In introducing Mr. Malcolm, the Mayor stated that the address was one of a series which Mr. Malcolm, who was very enthusiastic on the subject, was delivering throughout New Zealand. Mr. Malcolm had written to the Taranaki branch of the Navy League, offering to give an address in New Plvmouth, and that offer had been gratefully accepted. Mr. Malcolm opened his address by quoting the last words of a young officer in the Indian Army, who, as he lay dying on the battle field, repeated a phrase from Horace, which, translated, was, “How sweet and how fitting it is to die for one’s country.” The spirit of that young officer was the spirit of everyone who loved the Empire, and it was the spirit which permeated these islands to-day. We lived for the Empire, and desired to see it organised into a great whole instead of remaining in scattered units. At present, the Empire was very like a bundle of sticks which the first hearty kick would scatter. What were the advantages of federation ? In the first place, our trade and commerce would only be carried on in safety under Imperial federation, which would enable the Empire to organise as a whole and make tor its peace and prosperity. Imperial federation wouold bo to New Zealand’s advantage and interest; in fact, it was necessary to secure her continued prosperity. In 1909 wo exported £20,000,000 worth of New Zealand products. Of that, over £16,000,000 worth went to Groat Britain. While we remained a portion of the British Empire we were certain of a free market in Britain for those products. In the future Britain might possibly levy duties upon foreign products, but she would never do so upon colonial products. That was one great advantage our connection with Britain assured us. But more than that, our whole prosperity depended upon those products reaching their markets safely and speedily. Should they fail to do so the farmer, the working man, the capitalist would all bo faced with ruin. The trade of the different parts of the British Empire with one another was valued at over one million pounds a day . This enormous trade, thanks to the British fleet, was carried on with the utmost security. And this .brought up at once the question of defence. Imperial federation would secure efficient means of defence for the various units of the Empire. It would bo asked where danger was threatened from. Australians would probably answer that it threatened from Japan. But he did not share in tho belief that Japan had designs upon Australia. He had always believed that Japan would be kept far too busy in watching China, which it had awakened, and also in watching Russia. Mr. Malcolm gave his hearers an idea of the development of China, and especially of the great alteration which had taken place in the importance which its soldiers occupied in tho Chinese Empire. From being looked upon as tho scum of the empire the Chinese army had been raised to the highest status. There were also those who urged that whether Japan was a menace to these countries or not, Germany was a menace to tho Empire. With that ho fully agreed. He did not base his convictions upon personal opinions, but upon history. It was Germany’s history that condemned her Dissatisfied with her position among tho European nations, she made steady preparation for war with Denmark, under Bismarck’s direction. That war resulted in Germany’s annexation of Schleswig-Holstein and to the ultimate possession of the Kiel Canal. Then came further preparation for war with Austria, and once more victory and the desired result. Still not satisfied, Germany prepared for war with France, built strategic railways, flooded France with spies until tho German leaders knew more of Franco than the French themselves. Then, with all her preparations completed, she struck, and in a few months Franco, with all her glorious military history, was humbled to tho ground. Now we could actually see the preparations going on for a struggle with ourselves, and if we believed that those preparations were aimless wc should ho like the ostrich which buried its head in tho sand. Dealing with the precautions that it was incumbent on tho Empire to take, Air. Malcolm emphasised the necessity for a thoroughly trained army, Tho days of muddling through had gone for 'evor. Ho yielded to no one in his admiration of the desperate courage of tho British soldier, but courage alone did not make an efficient army. An American officer had lately written a remarkable book, entitled “Tho Valour of Ignorance,” in which it was shown that people wore fearless and careless simply because they wore ignorant. It was also shown that it tools three years to build up an army and to fit all its component parts into one another. Tho people of Britain had not such a machine. Tho failure of one part of tho machine might paralyse tho whole. Another benefit which Imperial federation would give us was racial purity. Veor after year our Parliament passed nice little laws to exclude Chinese, Japanese, and other aliens, but how long wero wo to he allowed to keep these laws on our statute hooks? Only lately that powerful nation, the United States, had had to abandon its laws for the exclusion of Japanese from America. He was convinced that in time Japan would indignantly demand that we should no longer put tins humiliation on her. Mr. Malcolm was quite aware that there wore some people whose racial prejudices made them ridiculous. But the instinct that taught us to keep our race pure was a true instinct. The only way in which these islands could he secured to people of British stock was bv Imperial federation, by diplomacy backed nn by the whole strength of the British Empire. There was also another service that Imperial federation would render to the Empire, It would, ho thought, furnish a satisfactory solution of that great and burning question, Homo Rule for Ireland. The British Empire owed a groat debt to tho Irish. On many a battle field that had helped to weld the Empire they had been foremost in the ranks. They had given tho Empire great generals and groat statesmen, and in tho colonisation of the Empire they had taken nn active part. In tho past Britain had not always treated Ireland justly, but to-day there was a sincere desire to remove every grievance. But one of the chief difficulties in tho way of granting Home Rule was that Britain could not give Ireland Home Rule and ent her off from the rest of the United Kingdom ; on tho other hand she could not give her Homo Ride and still allow her to interfere in the affairs of England and Scotland. But if an Itnnerinl Federal Parliament wero formed Ireland could be granted Homo Rule; so could England, Scotland and Wales, for they would maintain their connoc-

tion with the Empire through the Imperial Parliament, which then would be a truly Imperial Parliament, and not merely the Parliament of the United Kingdom and Ireland as it is to-day. And the granting of Homo Rule would have this further advantage, that it would remove tho last obstacle that existed to - a complete understanding between the people of the United Staten and Britain. Ex-President Roosevelt, when lately in Britain, said quite frankly that there could never be -unclouded friendship and complete concord between Britain and America while Homo Rule was denied to the Irish. It would have been noticed that all along he had spoken of Independence as tho only alternative to Imperial Federation. But why not let things go on as they are? Because they could not. A father niighc ae well ask concerning his sou of six, “Why not let him always remain a childi'” The colonies were fast growing into nations, into manhood, and the only way to keep up tho connection was for the father to take them into the,' firm. The legend over the door of tho' British Empire must no longer be John Bull, but John Bull & Sous. But how was tho Empire to be federated? In the simplest of ways, in a way in keeping with British traditions and with the evolution of the British State — namely, by forming an Imperial Parliament, to which representatives from all the self-governing States of the Empire would bo summoned. That is ail. England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand would all send representatives to this great Parliament. It would not rob us of any of the powers and privileges we at present possess. New Zealand would still keep its own Parliament with its present legislative and administrative powers. What advantage would tho Imperial Parliament be ? It would secure our defence. It would control our foreign affairs, in which the colonies would then have a say. It would make peace or war. It would govern our dependencies, great and small, thus giving the colonies opportunities from which they are at present excluded. It could govern interimperial trade. It could arrange for better inter-imperial communication, for the hundred and one things that our Imperial Conferences vainly endeavour to provide for. An Imperial Parliament would soon justify itself. Of course, there wore difficulties in the way. It had occurred to him that this district had been largely settled Ij Devon people. Were the people of Dovon ever dismayed by difficulties? No; they simply looked upon them as obstacles there was a pleasure in overcoming. What of Sir Richard Grenville and the “Revenge” ? Some people feared that in going in for Imperial federation we were going too far and too fast, that we should take but a step at a time. Wo had taken all the steps but one. Canada, Australia, South Africa wore all federated now. and tho only step left was Imperial federation. Imperial federation was not nearly so difficult as the federation, already accomplished, of the three dominions ho had mentioned. There they had different races, people of different languages, to amalgamate. But the federation of the British dominions with Britain would be, broadly speaking, but the amalgamation of people of one race and one language. Then the United States formed another example of how the difficulties of federation could be surmounted. But when all was said and done, it was not so much a question of advantage as of sentiment. It would be sentiment that would bo tho secret of success if federation were carried out. "Wo could not forgot that the people of the Empire were our own people, and that blood was thicker than water. When at Waterloo the Scots Greys thundered to the assistance of Picton’s Highland Brigade, who had pursued a brigade of French Infantry right to the French lines and were being charged by the French Cavalry, tho pride of blood found instantaneous expression in the erv of “Scotland for Ever.” Our watchword should be “The British Empire for Ever.” The conclusion of tho address was marked by hearty applause. Mr. F. P. Corkill moved “That this meeting considers the time has come for the federation of the British Empire under an Imperial Parliament.” This was seconded by tho Rev. F. G. Evans and carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. H. Okey, M.P., a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Malcolm. During the evening patriotic songs wore rendered by Messrs. R. T. Trebilcoo and T. Woodard, Messrs. J. C. Morey, jun., and E. A. Golding presided at the piano.