MR DEAKIN ON THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8409, 25 April 1907, Page 5

MR DEAKIN ON THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

"SOMETIMES OBSTRUCTIVE AND ALMOST HOSTILE."

ReceivecTApril 24, 7.36 a.m

LONDON, April 23.

Mr Deakin, interviewed, said the Colonial Office was sometimes obstructive, and almost hostile, and was almost always unsympathetic. The Premiers acting with him wanted the business of the autonomous colonies to be handled by different men and in a different method to the business of the Crown colonies.

What they aimed at was the creation of a new small department which, while being in a certain sense some part of the British public service, would yet be separated from all other offices, and, if possible, from particular British, interests. Its function would be to deal with all important questions peculiar to the autonomous colonies. If the new department was placed under the British Prime Minister, it was unlikely that he would have much time to be meddlesome. It was pretty certain that he would accord sympathetic treatment, because he would represent, besides the United Kingdom, all his fellow Premiers belonging to the conference. Mr Deakin added that the Premiers could contributeifto the cost of a department of highly competent experts upon a population or any other basis, but Lord Elgin (Secretary of State for the Colonies) and Mr Winston Churchill (Undersecretary) were opposed. "We wanted," said Mr Deakin, "men who have lived in Australia or h?.d sufficient acquaintance with the outlying dominions to be able to act with knowledge of their wants'." The 1 British Government, after consideration, declined the proposal, declaring that it must be left to] the Colonial Office to form its own department, Mr Deakin thereupon sharply re torted: "We want a joint department to do our work as well as yours," Lord Elgin's assurances the constitution of the secretariat were most vague and factory. Probably, the remlvlelled Colonial Office would soon fall into the old groove. Mr Deakin continued: "The position of the Governors of autonomous colonies as the channel of communication remains unaltered. Lord Elgin's suggestion that the Premiers must not ignore the value of the Governors as a means of communication was received in silence. The Premiers entertain great hopes to secure all they want at the next conference, as they anticipate that the, present expedient will break down. The are willing to try the expedient, since its failure will deprive the Colonial Office of the main ground of objection to the proposed change. "Lord Elgin," Mr Deakin went on to say, "even greatly resented the presidency of the Prime Minister as a blow at the Colonial Office, which is opposed to anything in the nature of a secretariat and intends to minimise its importance." Mr Deakin attaches importance to the securing of the recognition of the principle, in connection with the voting power at conferences, of one vote one government, also the recognition of equality of governments. Answering Mr Geo. Reid's criticisms as to Mr Deakin's proposals having been modified by the conference, Mr Deakin said: "My original proposal was carried, excepting that the secretariat was left under the Colcnial Office, instead of the seif-go-verning colonies, and all their business and the conference being placed under the Prime Minister. The difference between Sir Wilfrid Laurier and myself is that he wished the conference to be under the supervision of the Colonial Office. I think it needs no supervision in that sense by any British department. We ought to be responsible only to the head of the British Government, who should be the only responsible Minister to deal with us."