THE TASMANIA PRESS ON THE POLYNESIAN SCHEME.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4198, 3 September 1874, Page 3

THE TASMANIA PRESS ON THE POLYNESIAN SCHEME.

In a leading article, commenting upon the Polynesian Colonisation Scheme of Mr. Vogel, the Hobart Town Mercury of a recent date remarks -.—Mr. Vogel, the indefatigable Premier of New Zealand, has/again come to the front, but this time not as a stubborn vindicator of a reproductive public works scheme, but as the prophet of a'maghificent future for the "Great Britain of the South.:' Mr. Vogel has submitted to the Governor and Legislature of New Zealand a scheme for Establishing and encouraging, by way,of subsidy, a commercial company to trade between-that. Colony and the Polynesian Islands. In submitting his grand commercial scheme, -Mr. Vogel, admitted that proposals of that nature were always open to serious objections, because fears were sometimes entertained of the Government engaging in speculations private persons could carry out ;. but he • was quite prepared to allow the question to stand on its own merits before the House. The scheme, vast, as its proportions may appear, • is entirely consistent with, the rapid-commercial enterprise .of . the Colony so. ably, represented by. Mr., Yogel.-■• Week after week chronicles ; the arrival .of shipments of emigrants, many;hundreds of whom are young men in the full,vigor of life, but whose aspirations reach beyond tile mere tilling of the soil ; and it is for this class of young colonists that Mr. Vogel, with true statesmanlike forecast, wishes to hold out sufficient inducement to realises permanent interest, in the-, prosperity of the Colony. He desires to "provide jheaus for the energies of those whose inclinations directed them to commercial pursuits, and give them scope to carry them out.". But notwithstanding the vast commercial significance of the proposal, Mr. Vogel is not:content with footing-up a mere .profit and loss account;_ he undisguisedly avows political antipathy against what he justly terms "the disposition evinced by some foreign nations to', establish a footing, amongst the islands of the South Pacific ;" and further on he frankly acknowledges that the ultimate object he has in view, is the establishment of the Polynesian Islands in one dominion, with New Zealand as; the "centre of Government ; the dominion, like Canada, to be a British dependency. ,■ The, aspiration is a daring one, but its author is a, man pos--sessed of quick perception, unflagging "energy, and fertile resources ; with .these.qualifications, the same happy measure of success may attend Mr. Vogel's, Polynesian scheme as has hitherto launched him' "safely • into prominence, and added unexpected wealth and political status to■ the Colony.—After-giving a summary of the principal provisions of• the proposed company, the Mercury proceeds : —No doubt many obstacles will be thrown in the way so as to prevent the realisation of this grand • project, and not the least among these will be existing Provincial jealousies—the great,impediment to all'great national undertakings ; but the provision for the establishment of "a manufactory in each of the four leading'Provinces;'with a steamer to call at each,of the principal ports, may go .a .great-,length in smoothing down Provincial prejudice,;,.; Indeed;, if the Polynesian! commerce were at once, securely established with the Colony all. notions of .Provincial. favoritism would be quickly ■ exploded. There would be no picking; and choosing between this port : and: that, because the ..trade would tendto, aad.centre in,.that-port possessing., the best natural, advantages .for. security, and offering the least-difficulties'in the way of shipment and.discharge, as well as .warehouse accommodation, and facility -for subsequent transit of merchandise throughout the interior.