"THE DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 153, 28 June 1907, Page 4

"THE DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND."

In so democratic a community as this, it may at first sight seem of little importance by what precise title our country is designated in political speeches or official documents. But while the change from " colony " to " dominion " may seem trivial to some of our readers we think that it was well worth making, and that it represents a material improvement in our Imperial status. One ot>vious advantage is that under the new> name, this colony is more likely to acquire independent political existence lin the eyes of the world, and is less likely to be confused, as so often before, with Australia. The phrase " Australasian colonies" to many people at Home and abroad implies that New Zealand and Australia are very closely connected, and probably accounts for the popular belief that this country is only an outlying portion of the Australian continent. Another point to be considered is thai since Australia has become a Commonwealth in its own right, New Zealand has suffered in prestige through ranking only as a " colony." But the chief argument in favour of the change appears to us to be that the use of the term " colony" tends to confuse our standing with that of the numerous

'" Crown colonies" included in the Empire. The term " colony" in itself is not likely to impress foreign nations in our favour; for the ideas that they associate with their own " colonies" are frequently the reverse of pleasing or complimentary. And no doubt this sentiment was largely answerable for the refusal of the foreign Powers to recognise the British colonies as distinct countries at the last Postal Congress. But it is of greater importance to ua that the continued application of the term " colony" to this country tende to make even statesmen and public men in England unconsciously confuse our status with that of the "Crown colonies," which are still for legislative purposes absolutely dependent upon the Throne. The distinction between " Crown colonies " and " self-governing colonies" is too subtle for the average man at Home who is inclined to class all " colonies" together as subordinate dependencies of his own, inhabited chiefly by "gentlemen of colour." The concession of a title which will lift us above the rank and file of the Crown colonies is certainly a distinct benefit to us; and the fact that the name " Dominion" has already been adopted by the greatest and most prosperous of the autonomous dependencies of England is, in our opinion, additional argument in its favour. Henceforth there will be no more excuse for confusing New Zealand with the Crown colonies than Canada; and we hold that Sir Joseph Ward 3 by securing this distinction for the country, haa conferred a benefit upon it that will prove to be of momentous importance in the years to come.