The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1913. IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 298, 9 May 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1913. IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

A general survey of the cables would show that the various tendencies towards drawing the bonds of Empire into closer union are becoming stronger al- I most daily. Some years ago the idea j was hardly in its theoretical stage, aiul I almost the first systematized attempt to grapple with the problem was made by Mr. Parkin, who toured the Empire—we believe about the year 1880—in order to waken up the minds of colonials to a realisation of the possibilities of Imperial unity. The next impetus the movement received was on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, in ISO", when all the colonial Premiers met in conference in London. A further fillip was given by the splendid aid volunteered by the overseas Dominions in the South .African War. Interleaved with these luive been discussions I on preferential trade, an idea first mooted by 'Mr. Chamberlain. Recently the I naval scare, caused by the rapid inj crease in the size of the German fleet, I has stirred three at least of the Empire's I Dominions, and the Prime Minister of Canada seems to show an especial de- ! termination to help the Mother Country. The remarks of Mr. Peakin at the sitting of the Empire Commission, particulars of which were cabled the other day, express approval of the scheme outlined by Mr. Beauchamp, of the Bank of Xew Zealand, whereby the Empire could be self-supporting, so to speak, from a financial point of view, or, in the words of the cable, "he meant to use the Empire's credit for the Empire's development." Coming from such an eminent authority on finance, and approved as it is by a political thinker of such profundity as 1 Mr. Deakin, the scheme can hardly be j said to be Utopian. The cables contain : almost daily proof that the causes are all working to a common end, and tliat ; the scheme is coming within the region of practical politics. The late GovernorGeneral of Canada, Earl Grey, at a meeting in the Guildhall, stated that "the growing self-respect of the overseas Britishers was making it impossible for them ' to remain passengers instead of rowers in the Imperial boat. Hence some form of organic union ivas necessary." The same day an account conies of a meeting attended by Lord Roberts, who, in spite of his age, has been so strong in his advocacy of national defence. The , distinguished general compliments the i overseas Dominions on their up-to-date methods of defence, as contrasted with ' those of the Motherland. The rousing speeches of Mr. Allen on the subject of Imperial unity have added another brick to the edifice which is in this way being steadily built. There may be discontented sections of people in every community under the Empire's rule, but there is proof enough available that Imperial Federation is sinking into the people's minds deeper and deeper, and before very long it must become an accomplished fact. Coming on the top of this record, the statement by the London Daily Telegraph, cabled yesterday, that the highest Imperial interests are being endangered owing to the increasing absorption of British Ministers in internal politics, while the oversea States are concentrating their attention on defence, is one of those scare protests that are made more for effect than from conviction. The Imperial interests, and more particularly those of defence, are at the present moment admittedly of the most important character, but the oversea colonies are well able to frame their own proposals in this direction. They have shown a very ready acceptance of their . share of the responsibility, and have met with the widest sympathy and the best advice from the Home Government. The Tplegraph is laboring under a serious misapprehension in suggesting that even New Zealand is intent on developing a local policy, and is anxious to retain her gift of a battleship for New Zealand. There has been no sucli suggestion mooted here. ''Give a thing, take a " thing, bad man's play thing," comes back to memory as a reminiscence of our schooldays, and there is certainly no intention in the minds of the people of Xew Zealand to make our Dreadnought "a bad man's plaything."" The state-' ment is as irresponsible as a fact as the Telegraph's opinions are irresponsible in effect. New Zealand has no intention of building her own navy, never has had, and probably never will have. But we young people are growing up, and it cannot be expected that we shall remain tied to our mother's apron strings for ever. The Motherland has her own duties to attend to, although the interests of her children are also hers. But there comes a time when the children are looked to to lend a hand in the upkeep of the house. That time is ripe just now, and the. Dominions and colonies are all doing their best to lend that hand. They must learn to walk, of course, before they run, even at the risk of a fall or two. All they are asking for at present is a voice in the domestic counsels. To quit the metaphor, we regard the stirring of a spirit of local independence among the overseas colonies which has been so apparent of late, as one of the finest expressions of national loyalty that it is possible to conceive. It is a stirring of the waters that lias long been needed. We children will find our feet in due course, and it tends to a strengthening of national character if, under certain judicious restraints, wo are allowed to do it alone.