THE HON J. SERVICE INTERVIEWED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6161, 14 February 1888, Page 4

THE HON J. SERVICE INTERVIEWED.

His Views on England. (Per s.s. Waihora, at the Bluff.) [Bt Telegraph, j [from ottr own correspondent.} INVERCARGILL, Feb. 13. Mr Service, the late Premier of Victoria, in an interview, said he was present during the disturbance in Trafalgar Square, and thought that the police had acted with remarkable self-control, and the procession was very properly stopped. The higher and middle classes in England looked upon the Trafalgar Square meetings as something which should be put down with a strong hand. With reference to the article inthe St James's Gazette on the financial position of the Colonies, he thought that far more notice had been taken of it in the Colonies than in England. The feeling in London wa3 that South Australia and New Zealand especially had overrun the limit a. little with regard to loans, but no anxiety was shown about them. The Imperial Federation idea had greatly strengthened the interest taken in the Australian naval defences, which had done more to bring forward the matter of the federation of the Empire than most people were inclined to think. Sir Henry Parkes's proposal to change the name of New South Wales to Australia was received with universal derision, people wondering how so experienced and astute a politician could entertain such a preposterous notion. A good deal of English capital was going into Australian mining enterprises, but extreme caution was exercised. Respecting the New Hebrides, Mr Service states there was no condition that Egypt should be evacuated by tho British troops before France gave up her position in the islands.