IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2425, 15 November 1892, Page 4

IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

London, November 12. The committee of the Imperial Federation Council unanimously advise that when both Australasia and Africa are united under one Government, as is Canada, their London representative should become a member of an Imperial Council, which would include the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for the Foreign Department, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Secretary for War, the Secretary for India, the First Lord of the Admiralty, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Council should deal with Imperial Defence on the lines of the Marquis of Hartington's Commission ; the Council also to supervise the appropriation of any money contributed for the defence of the Empire by the United Kingdom and the colonies. The committee believe that the British colonies are willing to share in the cost of the general defence of the Empire if they are given a voice in the control of the expenditure of the cemmon funds. The provision for local defence in the colonies is to be accepted as equivalent to a direct contribution to the Imperial Exchequer. Among the measures conducing, but not essential, to federation, though likely to become practicable, are those for the admission of colonial securities to be amongst those in which trust funds could be invested witlvan Imperial guarantee, local loans for p'urposes subservient to Imperial ends, immigration, construction of dry docks, strategic cables and railways, for the opening of the administrative services of the Empire to all, for the appointment of colonial jurists to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, for increasing uniformity in statistics and law, and for a uniform Imperial postage. The committee consider that arrangements for telegraphic service could be made later, and expect much could be done to improve inter-Imperial trading relations. They are also of opinion that a Conference to consider Imperial defence ought to be summoned at the earliest fitting chance, with a preliminary enquiry by a Royal Commission.