PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF TASMANIA TO VICTORIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 308, 18 September 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF TASMANIA TO VICTORIA.

(FROM THE TASMANIA MORNING HERALD, ATTG. 29.) In our yesterday's issue we published a most excellent article, reproduced from " The- Argus" of the 22nd inst. We refer with pleasure to it to-day, because, whilst on the one hand it evinces sympathy with this colony in its time of general depression and trouble, on the other it suggests a panacea for all her grievances, and offers <i helping hand to assist her out of her difficulties- We congratulate our contemporary upon the generous spirit in which he turns his attention to Tasmanian affairs. We thank him for his suggestions, and believe that a feeling of gratitude towards him will animate every Tasmanian heart on perusing his well-timed remarks. " The Argus" appears to be well informed as to" the resources of the colony.; and it is cheering to observe that he does not at all despair of its future prosperity, though he mentions svith regret the eviderit and rapid progress it ,is making towards decadence and ruin. Our contemporary asks, what is to prevent us from diverting one-half, or even less, of the sum expended by Victoria — amounting, he estimates, to two millions sterling — upon, a numerous list of articles our island is so well calculated to produce, but which are now imported by Victo- • ria from the other* end of the world ? And he relates, in support of« his propo* sition, that we have " a fertile soil, good roads, magnificent forests, a genial climate, succulent * pastures, splendid seaports, and seas teeming with fish." We re-echo the inquiry ; and we believe the day will yet come when we shall possess all the benefit of the trade our contemporary- indicates we should have. But the great merit of the article in "The Argus," and that which we > thank him most for, is his recommendav tion as -to the annexation of Tasmania to Victoria. We are not patriotic enough to believe that the glorious Constitution which made this into a separate colony, and, gave it the three estates of the realm, compensates for the heavy expense the few, the very few, persons resident here have to bear. There is no doubt about it — it is a fact, that the machinery of our Government is sufficient for a population ten times exceeding ours. Our population, including men, women, and children, does not exceed 95,000, of whom . scarcely one-fourth are adults ; or, as our contemporary remarks, "a population equivalent to that of Melbourne and its suburbs north of the Yai'ra." Aud yet it has a " Governor, two Houses of Parliament, and 1000 Government officials." We will maintain that this is too much for the limited population of Tasmania to carry on its shoulders. We agree entirely with our contemporary, that the advantages of responsible government "may be secured at a much smaller outlay ; " and that " for all practical purposes," the inclusion of our representatives, or a portion of them, in in the larger Parliament of Victoria, and "the incorporation of Tasmania" with our " wealthy and progressive neighbor," would conserve the interests of Victoria, greatly alleviate our burdens, and advance our prosperity. Let us for a moment glance at some of tHe advantages Tasmania would obtain by annexation to her powerful sister. We will premise that she shall be properly represented in the Victorian Parliament. That the city of Hobart Town, the town cf Launceston, and each of our districts shall send a representative to Victoria, to advocate their several interests ; and that we will thus not lose one single iota pf-the freedom we possess. How much of the vdry heavy taxation we are at present subjected to — taxation, it Is said, that is driving the very bone and marrow of our body politic from our shores — would we be at once freed from ? Our municipalitieswould be found quite sufficient for all purposess of local self-government. At one fell swoop would be done away with the Governor and Houses of Parliament — in itself a saving of nearly twenty thousand per annum! Then the expense of every establishment to be provided for by the general Government Avould be supported - by' the funds from the general revenue, so that the people here would only have to pay a quota towards that expense. The departments which now are headed/ by every description of " general," would be managed locally by a few clerks, and thus this would ensure a vast saving. The injustice put upon us by tiie mother country, " on account of our weakness," in fixing upon us the ' expense of maintaining the remainder of her convicts, if we were allied to so powerful a helpmate as Victoria, would very soqn be remedied ; for England .would not dare to treat Victoria as she treats us in this respect, -In short, all our present governmental, grievances would, with the asisstanee of Victoria, \ be at once redressed. 1 But this is incomparable to the many commercial advantages we should enjoy by the change we have hinted at, if it were once consummated. The only market we can establish of a permanent character for the outlet of every thing , we can produce is Victoria. Doubtless, amongst the first effects that would mark the change, would be the establishment of the electric cable from Low Heads to Point Nepean, not solely at the expense of the 20,000 poor colonists of Tasmania, but at the general expense of the mighty alliance. With instant communication by this means ; within a day's steam communication ; with the port of Melbourne thus open, as it were like arms, ready to embrace

vs — how soon would -.ye have the wealthy capitalists 6f Victoria turning their attention to the genial Isle of the Sunny South? How soon would the manufacturing interests of the great colony seek here, in a country so eminently qualified for manufactories, a site for the erection of their woollen manufactories, their paper manufactories, and the many others now projected? Distilleries would soon be in full operation s — for the people of Victoria, unlike those of Tasmania, see no reason for pmalysing the arm of industry by prohibiting a business prolific with wealth..! The restriction being removed from the exportation to Victoria of our jams, our timber, and our oats, which has so' hurried us to the poverty we now have to bewail, each of these branches of industry would again flourish.. It is impossible to point out the many different directions prosperity would take, in the prospect of a change so full of promise. • Last, though by a long way not the least in importance to us, our vice-regal palace, after all, would/ be turned into a pregnant means, not only by material prosperity, bxit of refinement and elegance.- Doubtless, whoever governed Victoria — whoever represented Her Majesty as the Viceroy of Victoria-Tas-mania — would make this city ofHobart Town his residence during the intolerable summer that prevails" in the city across the straits. Here, as Christmas comes round, would resort Her Majesty's representative, to take up his residence for at least three months of the year at our Government-house. — the most superb vice-regal residence of Australia — to enjoy the refreshing sea breeze," pellucid atmosphere, and genial climate. In his Excellency's suite and accompanying him would be a brillant circle, comprehending the wealth and aristocracy of the- modern Eldorado, many of whonl would people the delightful villas that constitute our city, and make it their permanent home. What a charming' prospect for our Tasmanian belles— the fairest of the fair. What glorious alliances ! To the merchants and tradesmen how equally grand the view ! What thousands upon thousands of Australia's gold would be lavislied amongst them ! Where wquld they be equalled for thrift and prosperity? Never more would an income-tax be demanded ; and how soon would every city property doubly, trebly, rise in value ? We leave the picture for the present ; and believe, that if a determination is svinced to realise it, it must soon be transformed into a reality. In the meantime, we direct especial attention to a notice of motion that was- given yesterday evening in the House of Assembly on this subject. The following is the notice of motion referred to :—: — " Mr Murray to move on Thursday, 30 th August — " lbt. That die present state of the colony, which demands the increase of taxation, is viewed with universal alarm tis to its future. " 2nd. That the Constitution of this colony is of too cumbrous and comprehensive a character to be borne ,by its limited population, and its small resources. • - • , '" 3rd. That with a failing revenue, stagnant population, and declining trade, a measure for v relief is now urgently demanded. " 4th. That the restriction upon commerce consequent upon our total alienation from the sister colony of s Victoria, is one great reason for the general depression that prevails. " sth. That the annexation of Tasmania to Victoria, having a liberal*representation in ' the Parliament of that, country, would cement the interests of both, open to. Tasmania a permanent market for all its products, and relieve her from a major part of the taxation she lias now to bear. " 6th. That .such annexation would be the means of inviting Victorian, colonists to this colony, for the purpose of erecting manufactories, and thus giving employment to her population. *"7th. Tnat, under these circumstances, this House is of opinion that no measures can be devised so well calculated for the revival of the commerce of Tasmania, the resuscitation of its trade, and its ultimate prosperty, than one for its annexation to the province of Victoria." The motion was- withdrawn for a time.