FOUNDER OF N.Z.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1928, Page 4

FOUNDER OF N.Z.

WAKEFIELD’S AMAZING CAREER

Tbe memory of Edward Gibbon Wakefield has been shockingly neglected. In this young nation of ours, which more than any one man be founded, there is, we believe, no memorial to him—at least no adequate one—and the average New Zealander has tbe haziest idea (if any at all) of what lie did for this country and the Empire. As Dr A. J. Harrop tells us in li’is preface to his new book, Dr Garnett’s life of Wakfield—the only formal biography of this remarkable 'man hitherto published—has long been out of print, and it is high time that those interested in Wakefield’s extraordinary achievements should have available a compact account of his truly amazing career. Dr Harrop, who is a New Zealand journalist now on the staff of the “ Daily Mail,” lias done his work well. The industrious care and conscientious attention to detail which he displayed in his “ England and New Zealand ” are evidenced here, and the author seems to have profited by his previous experiences in collecting material and arranging it to the host effect. It may bo objected that too large a part of the book is occupied in covering ground that Dr Harrop has traversed before, and we sympathise ' with ProfqSSor Grant’s suggestion contained in a laudatory notice of the book in the “ New Zealand News ” —that readers would have liked to hear more of Wakefield’s early connection with Wellington, his quarrels with Sir George Grey, and, above all, the really astounding episode of the Turner abduction. But Dr Havrop’s tastes are rather historical than biographical, and lie is concerned even hero rather loss with the man and his personal life than with the great problems that lie so courageously and ably strove to solve.

One most interesting feature of the book is the prominence it gives to the writings on political and social reform, which Wakefield published while in Newgate—work which not only drew praise from the “ Spectator,” but extorted even from the “ Anfhenaerii ' 1 the generous admission tliat Wakefield bad already laboured wisely and diligently to atone lor the wrongs lie committed. Dr Harrop lias done well to publish large extracts from “ The Letter from Sydney,” in which writing as a settler in New South Wales, Wakefield explains with extraordinary accuracy and singular clearness of insight the precise difficulties which had prevented tli© growth of prosperous colonies in the past and must stunt and dwarf the development of Australia as well. As a, matter of fact, Wakefield possessed to a remarkable degree that constructive imagination which is perhaps the highest endowment, of genius ; and in the light of this inner vision he not only pictured to himself and others conditions and circumstances of which lie had no personal experience, hut with almost prophetic foresight lie predicted the growth of an Empire which on the lines that lie would lay down would ultimately develop into a political unity from which the members would never try to break away because they would always find independence and freedom within it. The more carefully the “Art of Colonisation ” is read the more clearly justified seems the “Spectator’s ” praise of Wakefield theories as “one of the highest examples of human ingenuity of which modern history holds record. Time may enhance, but will certainly not decrease the high repute which Wakefield already holds among the great men of the nineteenth century and the founders oi the modern British Empire.” A perusal of Dr Harrop’s hook will Certainly raise the estimate that most people have formed, not only of Wakefield's ability, but of his fin© personal character. His indomitable courage, his persistent sacrifice of all peace and comfort in life to the pursuit oi his great purpose, his devotion to his relations and friends, and his absolute freedom from sordid and mercenary motives should surely be weighed in the balance against bis self-assertive-ness, his dogmatism, bis inability to adjust himself easily to other people’s views and ways, and even against the faults of his youth, which he strove so long arid so conscientiously to repair, in the “'Art of Colonisation ” Wakefield speaks with manifest sincerity of “ the utmost happiness which God vouchsafes to man on earth, the realisation of his own idea.” That happiness at least was not denied to Wakefield, and it is to be hoped that the efforts that have been made by Dr Harrop, Dr Hoeken, Dr Higlit, and others interested in the growth of our own country and tbe Empire for an appropriate and permanent memorial to this truly great man will find an adequate response in tbe near future.