A TIMELY REMINDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8524, 17 January 1906, Page 2

A TIMELY REMINDER.

Tlie # citizens of Wellington hava chosen an appropriate moment to ventilate their views on the South African labour question. Now that the Liberal Government in England is assured of an extended lease of office, it will be particularly encouraging to Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman to have his views / on this question endorsed by the selfgoverning colonies. The Bannerman Government has, it is - true, promised to leave the final settlement of the. que®* tion to the South African colonies themselves; but it is clear, nevertheless., that a great, deal will still depend on -its own attitude over the matter. In view of this fact, the action of yesterday's meeting in Wellington seems to us singularly timely. For although the people of this colony have already expressed their abhorrence of the Chinese labour arrangement with no unoer<ta;nty, it is well at the present time that they should reiterate their opinions, so as to avoid any misunderstanding. The great mass of them will endorse every word of the dignified resolution carried at last night's meeting. We are glad to think that only a '-' very limited minority in New Zealand approved of the vicious action •of the Balfour Government, and that the great majority regarded it, and still regard it, as an insult to" the Empire, and a wicked breach of faith with the men who volunteered to fight -for Britain in the Boer war. If for no other reason than for this criminal blunder, the Balfour Government richly deserves the punishment which has overtaken it. With the fate of his antagonist confronting him, Henry Campbell-Bannerinan is not likely to delay the fulfilment of' his promise to allow the people of South Africa an opportunity to repeal the Chinese labour laws. But it is just as well that at the present juncture the people of the self-governing colonies should make known their views on the question. Their action will do no harm, and it will at least serve to show both the Home Country and the South African colonists that our interest in the matter ia as keen to-day as ever.