THE COLONIES AND COMMERCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVI, Issue 994, 28 November 1883, Page 5

THE COLONIES AND COMMERCE.

Iv a long article on this subject, the first part of which is chiefly devoted to statistics, the "Manchester City News" observes: The magnitude of our interest in our colonies renders it of vital importance that everything be avoided which may tend to sever their connection with the mother country, and that the latter should sacrifice some of her supposed power to secure their lasting sympathies. Some of the colonies now do something by military arrangements to protect themselves. They have their own militia, and England spends four millions less than she did thirty years airo in maintaining troops in them. But England bears all the cost of maintaining the navy, which is, after all, tbe chief protection against enemies in all parts of the Empire. With the exception of Canada, none of our great colonies need fear their neighbors. If they ever be conquered and rendered subject to a dominant Power, it will be by one from over the sea. The British navy protects the trade of both England and the colonies, and should it ever be swept by enemies from off the sea, British and colonial prosperity would be at an end. Politicians of all shades concur in this belief, and to the strength of this belief is due the great popularity of the navy. But if the fleet is equally important to every part of the empire, is it not reasonable that the responsible colonial governments should contribute towards its cost ? Colonial governments are fully aware of the liability of their seaports to attack, as ia seen from the provision they have been making for protecting them by torpedo boats. But it is upon the strength of the British fleet that the extensive seaboards and external trade of the colonies really depend for safety.

It is not likely that the colonies, under equitable conditions, would refuse the share of this burden. Support of the fleet might be turned into the first practical step towards that federal union that is advocated by some colonists and by many persons in this country. It would be dangerous to their union with the mother country if the colonies depended upon maintaining independent fleets. This danger is not inconsiderable in respect of at least Australia, which at the present moment is disturbed by the refusal of the home government to sanction the annexation of New Guinea. If the colonies could be participators in the cost and have a voice in the management of the navy, there would be increased reason for believing that one flag might be maintained for all the nations of the English race, except those of tbe United States. This is a. question which should not be viewed in a narrow spirit as to the number of present home population aud that of the present colonial population. The United States in their history show us what great nations the Australian colonies are likely to be in a hundred years, and ib is nob difficult to understand how union with them might then be the protection of our own Island. If the colonies and India subscribed annually five or six millions towards the navy, it might be put now on such a footing as would remove all doubt as to whether tbe British fleet was powerful enough to maintain itself as sovereign of the sea highways, and the restless ambition of France to become the first naval power would quickly subside.

Self-government, after being tried thirty or forty years, has not been followed in the colonies by any of the evil consequences which were predicted. It is terrible enough to contemplate what might have happened, if it had not been granted to them. Tbe colonists who have enjoyed responsible government have managed their own affairs satisfactorily, aud cKmmisbed the burdens they were to the British ratepayer. The social and political conditions of the colonies differ so much from those of England that one cannot legislate for the other. Each must govern itself. But there are many matters which concern the colonies quite as mnch as they concern England. The relations of the different parts of the Empire, and of the Empire of foreign countries, often concern colonists as much as they do the home population. Why should the colonies with self-government not have a voice in such Imperial matters. There are plenty of objects which a federal union alone could satisfactorily carry out. The colonies are part ofthe empire, and if they attain to the power of self-government, they should be expected to contribute -towards the maintenance and to take part in the management of that empire. It will be a fatal error if England, out of love of power, were to cling to the sole management of imperial affairs, till it found that the sympathies of the Colonies were so weakened towards each other and the mother country that there was no union between them. We have proved the wisdom of the colonies governing themselves, but it would be a sad result to the labors and wars and expense of a century if we fail to form them along with ourselves into a great confederation, which would be a blessing to each of its members and a mighty civilising force in the world.

An Irishman travelling in a street that Tfas pared, was met by a. dog -with. a. tfareatemng growl* Th© traveller attempted to pull up one of the paving stones to throw at him, but it was fast. " Arrah," said Paddy, "what a country is this, where »tone« are tied and dogs let loose."