The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1921. THE CROWN COLONIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1921. THE CROWN COLONIES.

It is quite probable that the scheme which the Colonial Office is reported to be considering, for the reorganisation of the administration of the British Crown Colonies and Protectorates, is the outcome of the deliberations of the committee charged with, the task of effecting large economies in administrative expenditure. This view is supported by the mention made in the recent cablegram on this subject, wherein it is stated that the proposed change is likely to ensure “an important saving of expenditure.” Whatever may be the reason for the new departure, there can be no question as to the soundness of the principle on which it is based. The present is on era in which the extension of autonomy is in marked evidence. Were it not for the hoary traditions of conservatism with which the Colonial Office is so thoroughly saturated, the question might well be propounded as to why these colonies and protectorates should not long since have been put in the way of administering their own affairs, and saving the Colonial Office the worry and expense involved by keeping them in leading strings, instead of teaching them self-reliance and independence of the grandmotherly fussiness of Downing Street. The change should be welcomed not only by the several portions of the Empire directly to be affected thereby, but also by all the selfgoverning Dominion.:, which have attained really great results through working out their own destiny. It is- remarkable how little is known by the average Britisher as to the smaller units which constitute a portion of the Empire. “There is,” said a recent writer, “a loose glibness in the phrase ‘a British Crown Colony.’ To the majority of people in Britain it signifies some outlandish kind of place -where a few of their own kith and kin are exiled amidst irksome conditions of life in a patriotic endeavor to further purely commercial interests.” The annals of the Colonial Office, however, can disclose a far different idea of what these colonies mean to the Empire. Therefrom can be gleaned some conception of the fortunes of human beings in faroff lands, their beliefs, their ideals, their aspirations, and, more important still, the extent to which alien races are straining forward to an equality of achievement with the British; of the birth pangs of civilisation.among the.unciyUlsedp.-of

the painful, and too often the bit-1 ter, contest between the older, | more somnolent civilisations of the East, and the comparatively newborn, but energetic, ruthless and high-ambitioned civilisation of the West. This new move contemplated by the Colonial Office brings all these thoughts—and more—to mind, for it opens up a vista of a mighty Empire that is striving to attain a higher plane, a greater strength, with increased freedom and self-reliance. The time is particularly opportune for conferring on the Crown Colonies and Protectorates a fuller measure of autonomy than they have enjoyed heretofore. Some may consider the scheme is belated, but that need not cause any regret so long as the right steps are now to be taken. The experience gained in the past with regard to selfevolution should be of great assistance in the carrying out of the work that now lies ready to be accomplished. Wherever possible the grouping system is to be adopted—a course that has been proved practical and successful in the past where it has had a fair chance of making good. Whether the chief control is vested in a High Commissioner or an Administrator is immaterial, so long as the interests of the Natives and Europeans are safeguarded, and the former encouraged to fit themselves to take an intelligent and loyal part in administrative work. Apparently particular attention is to be paid to the grouping an'd administration of the Crown possessions in the Pacific, and it would be wise, as well as courteous, on the part of the Imperial Government, to seek the advice and eo-operation in this work of the Australian and New Zealand Governments before a decision is arrived at concerning the privileges and prerogatives of the administrative bodies. In the absence of details of the scheme it would be impolitic to do more than accord it a warm welcome as a step in the evolution of the Empire that accords with the ideals of the self-governing Dominions, and signifies a change in the policy of the Colonial Office that denotes the removal of some ancient cobwebs that have long been impeding a. clear view of what is needed in Empire expansion and cohesion. The work to ■be done is worthy of the utmost care and statesmanship, especially in view of the fact that the paramount interest of the Empire and its people is world-wide peace.