IMPERIAL FEDERATION

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 436, 7 June 1902, Page 1

IMPERIAL FEDERATION

THE FUTURE SEAT OP GOVERN MENT OF THE BRITISH EM PIRE.

(By the Author of “A New Religion.”) When two or more separately governed States, kingdoms, or colonies, decide to unite and be governed by one federal government, one of the chief practical questions to be considered and settled, is the selection of a suitable city as the seat of the Federal Government. Previous to the federation, for example, of the various States of Australia, each State had its own capital or seat of Government. Now one City, Sydney, has become the seat of Government of the United States of Australia. Should Australasia, Africa, and the rest of the British Empire unite, as did tho States of Australia, for the purpose of forming one consolidated Empiro of all the British Dominions, an event which, now that peace has been declared in South Africa, seems practically certain to rapidly como about, the question will at once arise as to the site of government of the new- empire. In considering this question the important points to consider are: 1. A fairly central position to all parts of tho Empire to be governed. 2. Located in a position easily protected or least likely to bo attacked in the event of an attack by foreign powers. 8. A healthy city, surrounded by every natural feature necessary to a prosperous future.

It is evident that London, great and wealthy city though it may be, does not satisfactorily fulfil these requirements, as it is situated practically at the extreme end of the Empire, and hence is quite unsuited for the Imperial Capital, It is likewise certain that Sydney, being practically -at- the other extreme of the Empire, though eminently suitable as the Capital of Australasia, need not aspire to become tho Imperial Capital. India likewise, for various reasons, is quite unsuitable for the seat of Government. Clearly it is to Africa, therefore, that we must turn, as the crowning glory of the future British Empire, and it is somewhere in Africa that tho Imperial Government must be established, from whence to govern all outlying countries coming under the good old flag. Africa is in the centre oE tho British possessions, and will no doubt eventually comprise tho largest area of British territory in ono consecutive area. Notwithstanding tho fact that many soldiers died of enteric, during the late war, chiefly brought about by bad water and bad drainage, both of which drawbacks could be remedied by a civilized community, we have every reason to suppose South Africa to bo by no means an unhealthy country. Invalids prosper and recover their health there. Africa, too, when consolidated into one Government where all have equal rights and privileges can be made practically impregnable from foreign invasion. And this without thgr necessity of maintaining an enormoiJs and costly fleet. What fleet the Empire possessed could be used to protect her outlying dependencies, such as England, New Zealand, India, etc. With tho Imperial Parliament in Africa, Africa would henceforth become tho basis of all naval operations for the British Empire, and tho bulk of the fleet being mobilized in time of peace, on the Coast of Africa, could easily bo despatched from there to any I part of the world whore its services might be required. It will be remembered that it was from Africa that Sir George Grey despatched the fleet and troops that saved India, there being no time to obtain fighting forces from England. A fourth reason why Africa presents the most favorable position for the seat of Government of the new empire, is the fact that it abounds in natural wealth.. In the words of the late Cecil Khodes “it is mineralized from end to end.” And it seems to give promiae alao of aupporting a prosperous rural population, and in the words of the Great Napoleon, “finances based upon a flourishing agriculture can never be destroyed.” With all these natural advantages in favor of Africa as the future seat of the Imperial Parliament, what unbiased mind will oppose the idea ,of South Africa becoming the centre of thought and action of the new empire, which dates its rise from the declaration of peaco, and the consequent end of the great Boer war ? This being so it behoves the leaders of men throughout the Empire to put aside all petty local selfishness, and strive to establish an impregnable united State of the English governed world, with Africa as its base or centre. For the actual city chosen as the seat of Government in South Africa, the choice seems to lie between Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, of these three Pretoria seems to possess all the desirable qualities of a Capital. In the first place on account of its inland situation it is absoluuely safe, or will be when the whole country is under one Government, from foreign invasion. Secondly, it is removed from all the passion, avarice, and selfishness incidental to a gold-mining centre like Johannesburg. But the exact seat of the Imperial Parliament is a detail that can be easily settled at the proper time. Some will ask, but where does Canada come in, in this scheme of reconstruction of the Empire ? To this I answer, that should Canada wish, there is nothing to prevent her throwing in her lot with the Imperial Federation. But signs seem to point to the fact that Canada is becoming more American than English, and therefore should she wish to do so, why should she not join hands with the United States of America, while still bearing a friendly feeling towards the Motherland ? It seems to me that Canada has nothing to lose, and something to gain, by casting herself adrift from England, and uniting with America under the Common Government ; whose laws would be essentially the same wise and freo laws, which are commonly considered to reign under the British flag.