A CENTURY AGO

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20511, 30 May 1938, Page 13

A CENTURY AGO

THE DURHAM MISSION A GREAT REPORT GIBBON WAKEFIELD IN CANADA A '•entury has now passed since, towards the close of April. 133*. Lord Durham. Governor-General designate of Canada, embarked at Plymouth on H M.S. Hastings bound for Ouebec. On the surface the incident did not appear to be connected in any way with New Zealand, a country at that time not recognised as a part of the British Emp:re. It was. however, the opening scene of an episode destined to have a profound influence on the history of this country. An Enlightened Imperialist John George Lambton. Earl of Durham. was singular amongst the leading politicians of his day for his interest and faith in the future of Britain's colonial Empire. The common opinion of the time, shared by the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, was that colonies were an encumbrance —fruit that would fall from the parent tree as soon as it reached maturity. Durham. on the other hand, was an enlightened Imperialist, a supporter of colonial self-gnvernment. and an ardent advocate of extending the then existing boundaries of the British Empire As parly as 1825 he had tak-n the lead In a project for colonising New- Zealand. After the failure of the expedition sent out by his company under Captain James* Hprd. this interest had temporarily lapsed, to be renewed once again when, in 1837, the New Zealand Association was organised by Edward Gibbon Wakefield. He played an important part In the negotiations between the Association and the Government and when, later, the association gave way to the New Zealand Company, he became Its first Governor. Their common Interest In the colonisation of New Zealand linked Durham and Wakefield together In a close friendship. Durham was attracted by Wakefield's colonisation theories, and in particular by his proposals for the better utilisation of colonial waste lands. In choosing colleagues for his Canadian mission, it was perfectly natural, then, that he should select Wakefield, having in mind his appointment as Commissioner of Crown Lands. As Chief Secretary he appointed Charles Duller. M.P.. a brilliant young politician and former pupil of Thomas Carlyle. In several debates Buller had already championed the cause of the New Zealand Association with a seal and oratorical fervour rarely equilled in the House. Thus the Durham mission united the Aasociation's chief spokesman in the House of Lords, its advocate in the House of Commons and its theoreti•ai genius. The Durham Report Chiefly through the machinations of political enemies at home, Durham's mission ended in what seemed at first complete failure. Objections were raised to Wakefield's official appointment and in other ways Durham was hampered by restrictions imposed by the British Cabinet. Finally in October, finding himself in an intolerable position. Durham despatched Wakefield to England with his resignation. On his return Wakefield applied his boundless energy* and immense capacity for persuasion into the task of vindicating his chief. Letters were despatched to the press, public men were interviewed and cajoled. Durham's case was publicised by every conceivable means. The campaign had the desired effect and so far from returning in disgrace. Durham was greeted with “an almost triumphal recaption.'' Without waste of time Durham and Wakefield set to work on a report of the mission, and a month later they were Joined by Buller. The collaboration of the trio resulted in the famous Durham Report, which has been described as “the most valuable document in the English language on the subject of colonial policy.’* Briefly but sufficiently the report probed to the heart of Canadian disaffection. The solution advocated was the union of the two provinces and the granting of full rights of citizenship to the French minority. His further proposals were so much at variance with the ideas commonly held at the time as to appear little 6hort of revolutionary. The gist of

his recommendations was contained in the memorable words: “The Crown must consent to carry the government on by means of those in whom the representative members have confidence.” For the first time a responsible statesman openly recognised the principle of self-government in the colonies. Self-government In New Zealand So quickly did the principles expounded in the report gain currency ! that only seven years later Gladstone I in a despatch to Sir George Grey adf vised the granting of self-government Ito the New Zealand colonists. Sevi eral years were to pass before these j recommendations were actually given ! effect, but, as Dr. A. J. Harrop has j stated, the New Zealand Constitution J was the direct offspring of Lord Duri ham’s report. 'The New Zealand , colonists, from the very beginning, j had a sturdy faith in their own ability jto govern themselves. Their leaders j were imbued * with the doctrines of j Wakefield, in which representative ini solutions occupied as important a * place as the sufficient price.’* The I first New Zealand expedition left Engj land in the same year, 1830, as Lord ! Durham delivered his report. Lord | Durham was governor of the New | Zealand Company: Wakefield, who i accompanied him to Canada, was its j founder: Charles Buller. the third I member of the famous group, was the ' company's champion in Parliament.” ; Nor is it to be forgotten that the : Durham Report, so closely associated * with the founders of New Zealand, opened a way leading almost inevitably to the Statute of Westminster.