THE CHANGE OF NAM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1, 26 September 1907, Page 10

THE CHANGE OF NAM.

\$ ' ; HOW THE TERM ORIGINATED. AN HISTORIC DISCUSSION. Tho germ of the chango in the title of New Zealand is discoverable' in the discussions at the early sittings of the' Colonial Cpuferctico th?.t. sat in London in tho early part of this year. Tho pertinent portions of, this discussion are of great historical interest, and we may noto that, although tho official report of tho proceedings has been in tho Dominion for some months, no newspaper, so far as wo are aware, has printed-the -ixtraets which wo give below.

Tho idea of moving for a chango seems to have occurred to Sir Joseph Ward on. April 17. On that day the Conference • opened its discussion of tho resolution affirming.tiio donirablenoss of holding a regular Imperial Conference. Sir Joseph, after emphasising the diliorcneo between the Crown colonies -and tho autonomous dependencies of. the Empiro, went "on as fol- . lows': —"I think the term ' colony,'so far as our countries are concerned, ought to cease, and that that term ougtit to 1 apply to the Crown colonies liure-ly, and that those ol us who are ' not -at present kiiov. h Do-' minions or Commonwealths, snould oo known as States of the Empire, or some other oppressive v/or;i, so as w make a distinction as between the Crown colonics and vlie stll-gyvermng denendencies."

At tho. end of that sitting tho phraseology of tho resolution h:id been pavcially settled, tho. opening clause being: That ii .will .bo to the advantage of the, Jinipiro if (Imperial) Conferences arc held every fouror Vive years, as v;li.e:i' oucstions of common interest affecting the relations of tho Mother Country and His Majesty's Dominions over tho seas may be discussed," etc.' Sir Joseph Ward' said ri'nssumo that in this resolution New Zealand, now 'known by the term ■ colonyj'-will be 1 included ill tho oppression" ' .Dominion,' which I think it ought to bo. 1 ' The question stood over for the t-imo. On the next sitting day tho resolution was gone through phraso " by uhraso, and a long discussion ensued upon the .words." Dominions "oyer '.tlip'1 seas." - ■ Chairman: The secretary suggests that' wo should simply use the term ''Dominions over,tho seas." .'Mr. Deakin: AlO they all dominions?. "Dominion" is-a-technical title. 111 Canada tho word." dominion" includes the subordinate ' provinces, just. as . tbo word co.iTimon.-lrealt-h " with iis includes States. Mr. Winston Churchill : But in the Dlural, "dominions," it is quite different. . Atr. Deakin: I suggest you should bring in the words '' local administrations " to put it beyond ; doubt, but- a'f.) not particular about it. You might havo' both expressions. Chairman: It stands thus: "Thatupon matters of importanco;requiringconsultation in common, either in ■this country. "--j Mr. DcaUin': What does " consultation.in commori;" mean? A little' later; in the discussion Sir Wilfred.'. LaurJcr expressed doubts rriietho'r the uso of tho term "Do-, ninions 'bcj'oncl the seas "• might "riot" include Crown j colonies. Sir Josopli Ward: Why not,uso. tho words.-" self-governing colonies?"' Chairman: J think wo will havo to introduce ' tjho words " self-govern-ing."' " /"■" '' y "-t:" Sir WilfrjS Laurier: I would like- to uso some expression which : would mako a differentiation between the self-governing colonies and the other colonics. So far as tho colonies represented here are concerned, I wish wp;''c'oiild'drop tho'word "colonies" jsftd try to invent something . which ' would striko tho imagination moro. Mr. Deakin: Certainly; if_ anybody can do that it is you, Sir Wilfrid.

. The point, it became-apparent, was not easy of settlement, and various changes wore rung on' tho words " self-governing ",. and " dominions." Sir J. (x. Ward expressed his agrceablcpess to accept\"pelf-govenimg dominions beyond the • seas," but Sir Wilfrid Laurier;-argued for " a singlo apt word " which, would mean- " selfgoverning colonies:" Mr. 'Dbakin: Wo recognise that the " Dominion " is ■ tho - senior of tho "Commonwealth,''. and, therefore, tho name i M dominion " : has a claim. Again, wo recognise; that in His Majesty's ■; official title the -word "do-minion-"'-'is/'used where-tho word " commonwealth'"•" is not.

Sir' Wilfrid Laurier:Dominion " is it generalterm .which ; covers;.', "many words,'-which : it is -not possible, to define'otherwise.'';-:,,':

Sir .'Joseph Ward:'As!loiig as it is understood that New Zealand is n Dominion,'- . I do' not object to the word " dominion." We ourselves understand New Zealand is a Dominion, but I would like it understood that our country is covered by that term here.

A 'new point was raised by Dr. Smartt, who said that, though New Zealand might well' bo" called • a Dominion, tho separate South African colonics could not bo so called. Ho was supported by tho Premier of Natal, who said that in South Africa they "had not yet, got to that condition of things when'we nii'glit bbsafely designated as 'Dominions.' " ,• Eventually tho motion _ was carried with the word " Dominions " to refer to the countries concerned,. although the word " colonies" was used in -other resolutions carried by tho Conference: •