THE Evening Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2022, 28 October 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1869.

The Colonial Treasurer, the Honorable J. Yogel, is now on his way to attend a Conference between the Australian and Hew Zealand Governments, to be held in Sydney. It is now so long since the matter was mooted, that most people will have forgotten how the idea originated, and what purposes are proposed. The Conference is the result of a resolution passed by the House of Representatives, in the session of 1868,

and has in view the consideration of several important topics connected with the development of the trade and resources of the Australasian Colonies. The resolution which was introduced by Mr Vogel was as follows: —“That in “ the opinion of this House, it is desir- “ able steps should be taken to ascer- “ tain the position which the Colony “ holds in relation to Commercial “ Tieaties made by Great Britain with “ Foreign countries, and especially that “ authority should be sought to enable “ New Zealand, in conjunction with “ other Australasian Colonies, to enter “ into negociations with the United “ States for the free admission to that “ country of wools, the product of “ these Colonies.” This, then, is the primary object of the Conference, but not the sole one. In the circular addressed by Mr Stafford to the Governments of the different Australian Colonies, it was pointed out that other matters of common interest might, very advantageously, be taken into consideration. Others were named which will, no doubt, be fully discussed at the Conference—“ The Ocean Postal Service,” “ The establishment of a Depot at “ the Auckland Islands, and the erec- “ tion of a Lighthouse on the Snares,” To these very important topics, the Honorable Mr Robertson, of New South Wales, proposed to add—“ Ist. “ The introduction of free trade in “ inter-colonial products, 2nd. A uni- “ form Tariff; and 3rd. A Union of “ Customs.” It will be seen from this enumeration that the whole subject of the commercial relationship between Great Britain and her Colonies, as well as that of the Colonies to each other, must come under the review of the Conference. What the result may be it is impossible to divine. Notwithstanding the freedom with which the Colonies of Great Britain are allowed to legislate for the regulation of their own internal affairs, the Mother Country is jealously watchful over any steps taken that in any way interfere with her own Imperial sway. The liberty of taxing the products of Great Brilain is freely accorded. Any Colony is even allowed to adopt a protective 4srift‘ so long as it operates equally against all the rest of the world ; but no Colony is allowed the liberty of exceptional legislation. Some two years ago an Act passed the Legislature of Tasmania entitled a “ Bill to Promote “ Inter-Colonial Free Trade ;” but this Act was disallowed by Her Majesty’s Goveniment, on the ground that it interfered with the provisions of commercial treaties entered into by Great Britain with foreign Governments, Free then as are the Colonies in their institutions and legislation, their connection with the Mother country subjects them to certain restrictions and liabilities that are exceedingly detrimental to their own intei’ests. If the parent land is involved in war, the Colonies are liable to invasion and pillage ; and notwithstanding her power, she is unequal to their defence. If, for the interests of the people at Home, a treaty is entered into, admitting the products of foreign lands into her ports on the footing of the “ most favored “ nations,” it is equally binding upon *the Colonies as upon herself, for they are integral portions of the Empire. We have before urged that it is time that a new international code should be adopted in regard to Colonies. The idea that they are planted for the exclusive benefit of any particular country is long since exploded ; and it is therefore time that, with the dismissal of that unfounded notion, those barbarisms that -were founded upon it should be dismissed too. It is monstrous that to this day, Colonies should be liable to buccaneering visitations because the people of the land they have left are involved in a war they have nothing to do with; and precisely on similar grounds, they ought to be left free to make their own commercial arrangements, irrespective of those that are deemed necessary for Old World prosperity. It is impossible to anticipate the resolutions of the Conference. It is unfortunate that Mr Vogel is not an advocate of Free Trade, This is the more strange as not only he, but those whom he will meet, in consultation, will have to discuss one those restrictions that prove the folly of a protective policy. It will be curious to examine the minutes of the Conference, that will tell of the cogent reasons why the United States should relax their regulations regarding the admission of wool, urged by an advocate representing the protectionist Colony of Victoria, and by the anti-Free-Trade Minister for New Zealand, It has occasionally occurred, that men have become converts to sound doctrine, when placed in the position of an advocate of opinions they did not before entertain. We can hardly hope for such a result from this Conference. There is so much, ingenious special pleading respecting young countries, and fostering infant Industries, that excuses for abandoning sound principles commend themselves as soundest wisdom. Should such an

idea therefore cuter the mind of the Victorian or New Zealand representative as “ first cast the beam out of “ thine own eye, and then shalt thou “ see clearly to cast the mote ’ out of the eye of the United States, it would in all probability be smothered by the confusion of thought that lias led so many able men to consent to laying burdens on the Colonies that every year’s experience tells they will ultimately find too heavy to be borne.