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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 75, 4 December 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

M u. Gounvix Smith ox Or it Coloxlyl Policy. Recent correspondence respecting (ho affairs of Xcw Zealand gives Mr. Gold win Smith an opportunity of reverting to his old theme, and insisting that England shall break the connection which exists between her and her dependencies, and shall stand again, after 300 years of colonial dominion, alone in the world. The particular instance on which he now relics to prove the evil of colonial possessions and the necessity of abandoning them is the great expense incurred at the present time in keeping up a garrison in Xew Zealand. While wo are suiiering under a war income tax and exposed to the ambition of Trance, while we have the defence of of Canada on our hands, and a cotton famine to cripple our resources, “wo are keeping up an army of 5000 or 0000 men at an expense of at least half-a-million to protect the colonists of Xcw Zealand against a horde of savages ■whose number does not exceed that of the colonists themselves.” While we bear this burden the colonists refuse the tax themselves to delond their own homes, and even taunt us exactions. We believe this is the sum of Mr. Goldwin Smith's letter; and we have no desire to deny that the grievance is substantial. The whole system of using the British troops in local wars of the colonics calls for serious consideration on the part of the homo Government. We are sure, however, that if the total cost of the Xew Zealand garrisons during the last 20 years were placed before the English people they would not grudge the amount when they called to mind that by flu's outlay they had established their race in one ol the liuost regions of the globe, and given it a new life in the t-outhern hemisphere. We fully agree that now when the colonists have increased in numbers and wealth, and the Maories are receding before them, the time has come for the former to take upon themselves (he duties of local defence. The Duke of Xcwcastlo lias, indeed, told them as much, and though Colonial Ministers are the most timid of mankind, he will no doubt act upon (he principle ho has enunciated. In that case what will the colonists do? Wo believe they will acquiesce entirely in the justice of the new arrangement, and take upon'themselves the duties which devolve upon them. Wherever we have treated the colonies with justice and firmness and abandoned the old system of alternate bullying and coaxing, we have increased the good will with which these distant communities regard their former home. So in spite of the expense which Xew Zealand now exacts from us, or which we force on Xcw Zealand, we do not think it likely that England will abandon the colony, and leave its scattered Englishmen to the mercy of foreign nations. To ns, and, wo believe to all bnt an insignificant section of Englishmen, the system by which regions divided by the half of the circumference of the globe gave a common citi/.ensnip, by which the native of any part of a a great confederation lias a career open to him' in all, is a fabric of civilisation not lightly to ’he broken np. We feel sure (hat (lie time is not near when the emigrant to Tasmania or the Cape will have to hid adieu to the name of Englishman, and abandon for ever the birthright of his race.~Times.