Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1903. THE MOTHER COUNTRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7534, 10 August 1903, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1903. THE MOTHER COUNTRY.

The following extract from Mr Gr. H. Eeid's spirited speech in the Federal Parliament, on the " Naval Subsidy Bill," seems to be worth quoting, as an excellent summary of the colonial position : — " My feeling of obligation to the Mother Country is so profound, my sense of the generosity with which that Imperial Power refrains from pressing its claims upon us, and leaves us absolutely free to give a refusal to a request for even the smallest contribution towards the enormous expenditure upon naval and military defences, which is burdening the people of the Mother Country, ia so great, especially in view of recent development, that whatever the flaws in this agreement may be, and whatever objectionable complexion may be put upon it —that for example we are entering into a partnership with the Mother Country in the burdens of the Empire— a complexion 1 absolutely repudiate—l shall vote for the proposal. . . . We cannot searoh the history of the world without noticing the marvellous magnanimity which has caused the Imperial Power to ask us to contribute so small an amount, and to sign such an agreement. Let those who talk so loudly about duty to the Mother Country, just imagine what our position would be in the French or German Empire. The benefits we derive not only from the protection of our trade on the seas, but from the Mother Land all through, are such that I cannot oppose this agreement." Many of our Colonial Imperialists are apt either to get off their feet, or off their heads, in trying to run the Empire, and in exclaiming, like the fly on the shaft of a trap, " What a dust we make !" The sentiment of devotion to the Mother Country, and of gratitude to her for the many benefits we have, received in the past, and are still obtaining, is admirable. We, however, who live in the Colonies, may well keep our breath to cool our own porridge, and allow the statesmen of the Mother Country to shape the destinies of Great Britain. The first duty of a Colony like this lies at home. We fear that our own statesmanship is insufficient for the wise and good government of this Colony ; and there is certainly none to spare for the Mother Country. In civilisation and freedom, the Mother Country is far ahead of Now Zealand. In this Colony, both Press and public are fettered by blatant Liberals. This is not the case at Home ; and when we ask for the liberties enjoyed there, our small-minded rulers say it is not safe to give them.