The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1914. COUNCILS OF EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 181, 30 January 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1914. COUNCILS OF EMPIRE.

The vacancy in the Canadian High Commissidiiership resulting from the death of Lord Strathcona has been made the occasion for a suggestion that in future appointments the appointment should ho a Cabinet one, and that the holder of it should have a scat on the Imperial Defence Committee. Tiie Premier of tile Australian Commonwealth is reported to iiavc expressed himself m favor of this change in the status of High Commissioners, and no doubt- the subject will now be discussed in all its bearings. While there is much to be said in favor of the idea, we are not satisfied that the change indicated is

the best that could bo made. There are two considerations io be kept in view—firstly, the efficiency of the High Commissioner's office; and, secondly, the proper representation of the dominions, so thit they may take their right place in a scheme of Imperial Federation. It seems to us that the functions of the High Commissioners would not be so well discharged by Ministers of the Crown as they are at present by salaried officials appointed by the dominion Governments. To give the High Commissioners the status of Cabinet Ministers would 'bo analogous to making them Ambassadors. This would give them a more exalted conception of their functions, with the result that the detail work of the High Commissioner's office would not receive the same close personal; attention that it does at present: There would be an incongruity in a Cabinet Minister and a member of the Committee on Defence "stumping" the country to drum up immigrants or actively interesting himself in frozen meat, butter, wool and rabbit-skins. His Ambassadorial status would be a sign of division rather than of federation, and therefore might retard that Imperial union which is so desirable. At the same: time, we do not deny that it is highly - necessary (hat the dominions should each have a representative of Cabinet rank residing in London, fully empowered to express the views of the Ministry to which he belongs, and taking part in Imperial deliberations. We conceive, however, that the end in view woujd be better attained by Dominion Ministers being given scats on the Privy Council and in the reformed House of Lords, with perhaps the right to address the House of Commons when matters of Imperial concern were under consideration. Briefly, we incline to favor the creation of a system of real representation of the overseas dominions in the Imperial Parliament, leaving the office of ; High Commissioner undisturbed. "Call us to your Councils" has been the insistent cry of the dominions for some years past; and now, when the reform of the House of Lords appears to be within measurable distance, the time is opportune to prefer a request for a direct voice in the Parliament of Empire. The suggested alteration in the status of the High Commissioners might, if carried into elVect, prove a stumbling block to true Imperial Federation. The question ought to be very carefully considered before u decision is arrived at.