Sir George Grey on Federation and Annexation.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4638, 15 November 1883, Page 2

Sir George Grey on Federation and Annexation.

(P.eb Pbess Association.)

Auckland, Yesterday,

Sir Geo. Grey lectured on "Federation and Annexation " to-night at the Theatre Royal to a crowded audience. SeniorCouncillor Waddell presided. Sir George was enthusiastically cheered on coming forward to adress the meeting- He said he did not know whether he should be able to carry their-sympathies with him, as the question was of less utility to the present than the time to come ; but it was these apparent impracticable questions which determined the future and the welfare of unknown millions. Looking to the past he would tell them what he and those associated with him felt, 37 years ago, as to the relations of New Zealand to the islands of the Pacific: They felt that unless those islands were taken possession of something worse than slavery would be instituted—the slave trade; that adventurers would sacrifice everything in them for greed of gain, and possibly foreign Powers intervene with protectorates.. He relied on the people of Auckland to make sacrifices; to look at their charitable endowments —r the provisions in the deeds of which declared they were made for the benefit of bo'.h races in the Islands of the South Pacific. .Something was done in the Southern Provinces so that their schools, hospitals, and industrial institutions were by the endowment deeds open to the Islanders. At that time negotiations were opened with Fiji and Tonga, while New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, and the New Hebrides actually belonged to New Zealand, but a party.arose in England - averse to the extension of the Empire, which had continued til) the present day, and the opportunity then offered was let slip. That was 40 years ago. Since then great changes have come about, and other powers had entered the Pacific and brought about the results they now saw. ,: During these 4o years he had hoped and watched for a grand reunion'of Anglo-Saxon communi* ties, with oneicommon Janguage and literature, strong enough to enforce what was right throughout the world. He thought "the interference of this colony with the Islands was not unwarranted, and would be for the benefit of the aboriginal inhabitants themselves. Why should they not now carry out the original plan, and send the flower of their youth to the Islands as magistrates and to other avenues of distinction? Why not put an end to the labour traffic in , its present form, and subs'itute some better ? Their merchants would have new openings for commerce, for be included the large islands adjacent to the Australian Continent in the term Islands of the Pacific. These colonies had a natural right to have something to gay in shaping their own destinies; to influence the Councils of the Empire on matters which concerned them, even secondarily. He believed such a claim would now be granted cheerfully by British statesmen to the Australasian colonies, though refused with scorn 40 years ago. Referring to the legislation of the Assembly in the past session, on South Sea affairs, he considered the intercolonial conference had not been begun under the best of auspices. The questions to be dealt with were not part^ but national questions, and the people of the colony should have chosen delegates. If ever there was an occasion on which such a method should have been adopted it was the present, and he should havethoughfc it due to the inhabitants of the great Australian colonists to know what they thought about it before he intruded himself on them. When the question came up for final settlement the whole colony should have a chance of deciding upon the issue, and of choosing men who should take the final and irrevocable steps. The present .delegates should have only power to report their conclusions or recommendations, and the people should see to it that nothing was agreed to of decided till the report of the delegates was submitted to Parliament and again the final decision left to the national vote. The matter was too important for the country to run any risks. Could anyone tell what was to be submitted to the conference, or what it should do when the report of the delegates was made ? It should be published so that public discussion might be incited, and careful consideration given to the question. There were, however, certain cardinal points which should be insisted upon/—First, that no exterior power should control their domestic legislation, or interfere with their right to do what they thought,besfc for their own benefit within the limits of the colony. British statesmen, he believed, would be willing to take the colonies into their confidence, and would be willing to dis» cuss with them the question of federation. Second,—That they should bo heard in the Councils of the Empire on all matters relating to their relations with neighboring countries or powers. There wa3 a party at Home who cared nothing for the colonies, and were willing to let them go : whose maxim was to buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest markets ; trading with the world by order of one British Minister, a subject like himself. The Orange Free State had been out off from the Empire, and. an island in the Pacific had been surrendered without Parliament ever being consulted. Third, a cardinal condition should be that no colony or portion of the Empire should be surrendered save by act of Parliament. There were certain things on which they should federate with other colonies, by treaty or otherwise; defence, for instance. 'He did not think i the people of New Zealand would derive such valuable results from-federation as North American colonies had done. For instance, if they had a federal assembly for the Australian colonies, when the labor question cropped up their interests would be conflicting, and New Zealand would be in a minority; and it remained to be seen whatcompensating advantage we would get against this disability. His idea was to keep New Zealand a purely European Power amidst the oolonised races, and keep put the Chinese and Malay hordes Which would press upon them. No temptation of gain from cheap labour should lead them to sacrifice that aim. They had ample facilities for defence, and the best possible opportunities of showing to the coloured races around what the/Anglo

Saxon race was, and what it could acoom

plish. In Australia, from the nature of the country and the climate, there was a sphere for the coloured races, as the soil could only be cultivated by them in certain sections of the country, but he foresaw for Australia ia the future a time of trouble and difficulty with.alien races on labour questions, unless be institutions were kept free and liberal, The people of New Zealand would, if they were wise,.

never run the risk of facing the competition of coloured labour. At the Cape of Good Hope the European could not compete as a labourer with the Kaffir, and he. bad to sink tq the level of the inferior race. If the sfeps taken forty years ago to add the Islands of the Pacific to the Empire had been followed up it would have been benefical to all concerned. New Zealand with the Australian colonies had. grown up in that period from childhood to youth and incipient manhood; had now entered upon rights and responsibilities attached to manhood in this the greatest crisis which had arisen in the Australian colonies. They would yet meet again before the question was finally settled and fought out.

Sir George concluded his lecture amid great applause.

Mr J.. A. Tole, M.H.E. moved and Mr T. B. Hill seconded, the following resolution : "That this meeting accords its hearty thanks to Sir George for his able and eloquent address on federation and annexation, and is of opinion that the islands in the Pacific ocean should not be made the receptacles/or convicts of any nation.—This was carried by acclamation, and the meeting broke up with three cheers for Sir Geo. Grey.