ANNEXATION OF POLYNESIAN ISLANDS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 893, 25 February 1879, Page 2

ANNEXATION OF POLYNESIAN ISLANDS.

* ] (VER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ] Welxtxcton, Feb. 25. The Premier lias published a long c memorandum and dispatch from Home, t relating to certain cruelties to Polynesian i laborers in Lata by a Mr. F. Counwall. <■ In this memorandum he points out that a in a despatch written 31 years ago he in- t dicated the probability of such assurances, 1 and pointed out the remedy. He now s says :—" I still remain of the opinion I 1: so long ago expressed, and I think now a tluvfc if Great Britain will not accept the c cession of those islands in the Pacific which do not belong to her, she should h

I allow'her. Colonies in this part of the -> world to do set: Their future interests and welfare are to the highest extent in•t volved iri this question. In fact the ,r whole futm-e advancement and civilisation e of this part of the world depends upon ; - it. On it hangs the question whether ir a common language, common laws, com- '■> mon civilisation, and a similar form of d Government shall prevail throughout the P Pacific. If other Powers come in and it occupy the Pacific Islands they will rej establish arsenals close to these colonies, n which will not only imperil the future s safety of the colonies, but will force a a large and constant military expenditure 0 upon them. The Powers who take such s islands may also establish on them conviot t colonies, which may ultimately flood the } T British settlements with most undesirable 0 persons ; or they may set up communities S with peculiar forms of civilisation, in d some cases establishing what might almost 'f be kinds of slavery. It is certain also • that if the Pacific Islands arc held by e forcing foi'eign Powers, that in the future 0 disputes may arise between the British Q Commons and such foreign Power, and the B Pacific may become the scene of constant t wars instead of being one vast area 'i of peaoe and commerce of the most valud able kind, from the great variety of comf modities which the islands can produce. t It is difficult to understand why Great e Britain should encourage foreign nations a to gain a footing in the Pacific and yet s refuse this privilege to her own offspring ; .*■■ and it is still, mora difficult to understand 1 when in the case of those islands, which 11 are actually British possessions, she should 'f allow, as she has done, foreign nations to e take possession of them, and refuse to permit her own children to do so." He t then points out the advantages which • would result from the policy he advocates 0 and the dangers inour-red by neglecting s it.