The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 20, 1911. AN UNREALISED DREAM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 313, 29 May 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 20, 1911. AN UNREALISED DREAM.

; The Imperial Conference, now sitting in London, has made short work of (Sir Joseph Ward's Imperial Council scheme, or, as he preferred to call it, "an Im pertai Parliament of Defence." It met with the approval of not one of tht other delegates, whose arguments against its adoption were overwhelmingly strong. "The Empire lias now readied a stage of Imperial development which renders it expedient that there should be ail Imperial Council of State, with representation from all constituent parts of the Empire, whether self-governing or not, in theory or in fact, advisory to the Imperial Government on all questions affecting the interests of his Majesty's dominions oversea." This was the cardinal passage of Sir Joseph Ward's resolution. In support of it., he stated at the Conference on Friday that defence was a vitally paramount question, being even more important to Britain than the overseas dominions. He continued: "Considering her naval burden, the day for partnership has arrived. The question is, on what basis should the partnership rest? It could not rest on the present relationship, i.e., not giving th? partners a voice in the management of the measures necessary for the protep tion of British ships, goods and people on the sea." The difficulties of instituting a body with the powers suggested are obvious. As \Wis pointed out by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a legislative body with power to create expenditure but with no responsibility for providing revenue, is both indefensible and impracticable, violating, as it does, a principle indissolubly bound up with the constitution of the Empire. It was a violation of the principle of "no taxation without representation" that lost England the present United States. Were it to be put into force now, the colonies would almost of 3 certainty "cut the painter," just as their cousins in Boston did so many years ago. Evidently Sir Joseph h?s not given this aspect very deep consideration; otherwise the lessons of history and the evolution of the British Empire would not have been lost on him. We would scarcely think that be is reflecting the mind or the opinion of this country wlien be advances the statement that, "the dav for partnership has arrived.'* It has not arrived, and the. fact must be patent to the most, superficial observer. We are dependents and not partners, in the ssensc that we must depend upon the Motherland Tor our naval pro-

U'ftion for many years to comc. We may create a navy of our own if we like to saddle ourselves with enough debt, or we may join with Australia and become partners with liei in a Pacific navy, but in a life and death naval struggle with a country like Japan, what sort of chance would we havct Very little, we are afraid; at any rate, for many a year to come. No; we must rely on the strong naval arm of Britain until ire discard our swadling clothes, until we grow to manhood or nationhood. Sir Joseph Ward was on rather safer ground in his allusions to the setting up of nn advisory or consultive council, in which the overseas dominions would have representation. That must come about before long. It would be but an extension of the principle of the present "secretariat" established in 1901, and which Mr. Louis Harcourt says has proved satisfactory in its working. Evidently, the Home Government arc anxious to meet, the dominions in this connection, for the Secretary for the Colonies has himself suggested the appointment of a Council of High Commissioners or other nominees of the dominions, to consult between conferences with the Prime Minister. The Government also express their willingness to create a separate Under-Secretaryship for the dominions. though it would be attended with 'difficulty. Both would represent a marked step in the relations of the dominions with the Home 1 Government, and undoubtedly lead to a better condition of things on both sides. If the providing of this improved machinery is the result of our representative's advocacy of the greater scheitie of Imperial federation, it will not have been without profit.