THE COST OF OUR COLONIAL EMPIRE.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 181, 5 July 1873, Page 2

THE COST OF OUR COLONIAL EMPIRE.

On March 7 Lord'Emtaeo JCeeil, in a brief speech in the House of ComtnoiM, <mid that our colonlos were now costing us hetween tyro and l.hree millions j> year, and moTed it was time they bore their share of Imporiul taxation by a contribution of either men op money. Mr Knatehbull-Hugeasen, in opposing the motion, mid he felt obliged to the nobl* lord for his speech', becimo he preiumed from his relation- ! ship to the Marquis of Salisbury lie spoke with some authority as representing the Opposition. Tho colonies, howeror, already bore thtir full share of the Imperial burdens :—: — The exponditvir.e for the year 1863-9 amounted to £3,380,033, wherrtp? the lait return showed a charge of only £1,708,290. This* reduction had not bfen occasioned by simply wilh'lrayring nien, leaving tho colony exposed, but by roduotiofis ulrtch would prove beneficial both to the colony nnd the mother country. He found, also, that most of this expenditure had been incurred for Imperial purposes. He had worked out the flgnro3 very carefully, and he found iiiat. out of an expenditure of £1,708,770 more than £1 ,205,000 nwtbt&f&irl.v be charged for Imperial purposes, • leaving about. £soo,oo9 for colonial purposes. In fact, the tof.nl omopnt i>xnK9iU>(l up'pu (lie colonies whioh niiglit bo wi.l to be in theirUical -Interest was £(175,000, of which tho oo'cmitM would pay frilly one hnlf. K:r Ciiarlpit Arlrlevley also opposed the motion, but not for Mr Iviiatchqiill-llugeiSHen's reasons. The defence of the empire was ns much a Cdlonial as au Imperial, object, and the colonists *^re as inuoh bound to contribute to it as tho homo subjects of the Queen ; but wo liavo no right here to tax the colonists who had parliament! of thoir own. Mr Gladstone disclaimed for the G-overnWnl- tho doctrine that the colonies had no interest in the safety of the empire, and that under no circumstances could they be called on to contribute to its defence. As the spirit of freedom and reliance developed; he expected that the colonists would be eager to claim their share iv the burdens nnd glory of British citizenshp. But it was wiser to allow this feeling to follow its natural growth, and he deprecated, therefore, pressing such a mdtion'ai this to » division. After some remarks from Mr Macfie for, and Mr E. Fowler against, tho motion, it was withdrawn.