DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 13 July 1907, Page 2

DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

NEW DESIGNATION ADOPTED.

Per Press Association. Wellington, July 12.

At the afternoon's sitting of the House

The PREMIER moved: "That this House respectfully requests that his Majesty the King luay be graciously plowed to take such steps as he way consider necessary in order that the designation of New Zealand be changed from Colony of New Zealand to Dominion of New Zealand."

Sir Joseph Ward read a number of extracts from despatches 3eut in the early days of the colony, showing that, as far back as March 11, 1874, when a despatch was sent by Sir James Ferguson It was recognised that New Zealand would become the centre of Government for the Islands of the Pacific. lie went on to say that considerate ignorance prevailed at Home in regard to New Zealand, and since the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia many people thought New Zealand was included in the Commonwealth, There were fortythree colonies, and in changing the name to Dominion, New Zealand would be I lifted out of the ranks of colonies. He maintained that in the eyes of British people, the Dominion of Canada occupied n higher position than the colonies, and he saw no reason why New Zealand should not be raised in status by the adoption of Dominion as a name instead of Colony. There was no- suggestion of any intention in seeking to change the name, to change the form of Government. Dominion, he argued, was applicable to our position. It did not impiy federation, and he knew of no objection to the proposed change. His only desire in making the proposed change was to lift the country to a higher plane, Australia, since the adoption of Commonwealth, stood in a far higher position than previous to federation.

Mr MASSEY said lie did not intond to speak at any length on the motion, as he did not destire to waste the time of the House. He noticed that the proposal had not met with any enthusiasm by the community, or members of the House, a|d he maintained that if the name was changed, ten years hence there would still be people who would not have heard of the change. He argued that the Dominion of Canada was a collection of colonies, whilst New Zealand was only one colony. He did not think It worth while opposing the proposal, but did not think it would do any good; Hon. C. H. Mills expressed approval of the proposed change. Mr P. FISHER contended that the Premier was fifty years too premature in the proposal. It was true that Federation in Australia had raised Australia's dignity, hut that was because it was an aggregation of States, two of which at least had greater population than New Zealand. Mr J. ALLEN asked what had the Premier done at the Imperial Conference to forward the substance rather than the name of Dominion? Had he done anything in connection with the Tongan and Fijian Groups to carry out his ideal of a Ureal Pacific Dominion? If it was merely to sajisfv the vanity of the Prime Minister, it was not good enough. Messrs. Malcolm, MeLachlan, Gray, Tanner,- W. Fraser, Hekc, Major, Wilford, Ilornsby, T. Mackenzie, Poole, and Symea also spoke. At 5 p.m., the Premier rose to reply. On the motion being put, Mr Fisher called for a division, and the motion was agreed to 50 votes to 18.