DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2126, 8 July 1907, Page 3

DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND.

CAPTAIN TUCKEII’S VIEW’S. “NEW ZEALAND” OBJECTED TO. (Special to Times). WELLINGTON, last night. I Captain Tucker, who was the secoiuler in the Legislative Council ol' the motion that an Addross-in-Eoply he presented to the Governor, ills .'o some rather humorous remarks in reference to the chnngo in the colony’s title. Ho said ho did not know much about tho term “dominion”—hide d he knew.not. what a dominion was, save from history, as he had inner lived in one. lie, howov ir, argued that unless some benefit was to l-e gained from the change, such a change would never have been suggested. Therefore it was, lie (o ik it

that the change was to he iii.-To. The term “colony” hail, in the past, onle lioen another name lor a j.eua.' settlement. lie admitted that the change in name would not mate ir-noh difference in the eolony itself, and that it would not increase the ■eri.dty of the soil, but there m-'it ho something in the idea or the change woo’d Mr. Witty’s contribution to the do minion question caused t i" > 1 dm ot laughter. Alter scutum that the change of inline at all events could not mean any less to ms, he said the eolony "had been in short! clotli?s but it was now in trousers.” He suggested that it should be enlL'.l the “Dominion of Maorilnml.” tie objected to “Now Zealand” because : t

was a foreign name and did rot belong to the British nation. It uns a Dutch name. The proposed elevation of Now Zealand to the status of a “Dominion ’ continues to afford material for diversion. This afternoon Air. Rutherford presented a petition from residents of the “dominion of New Zealand” asking for certain reforms in connection with the legal profession. Mr. Rutherford had taken the |C tition to the table when Mr. Gray, having detected a “too previous’’ phrase in the preamble, asked tr.e Speaker where a petition , could lie presented from a place which did i ot exist.

Mr. Speaker replied in the negative mil the member for Hurumii bad to :ako back the document and sub >fci:uto tlie now despised word “colony ’ for the more dignified title of il c future.