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43

After leaving the prairies one passes through the Rocky, Selkirk, and Coast ranges of mountains to Vancouver, the threshold of the Pacific. Probably the scenery on that part of the route is unrivalled. The most exacting of travellers has to admit himself at first astounded and finally delighted with the grandeur and beauty of the panorama that continually unfolds itself before his eyes. Those who have journeyed to New Zealand and Australia by way of Vancouver or San Francisco will know that the Pacific Ocean and its many groups of islands possess attractions not less interesting than the most vaunted of other routes. It has been stated that the completion of the Panama Canal will rob the new route of many of its advantages ; that it will be shorter in distance, and encourage direct steamship communication. The wish may be father to the thought, but, from a practical standpoint, I doubt whether it will ever very seriously compete with it. Slightly shorter as regards mileage it may be, but we must bear in mind that three thousand miles of the proposed route is on land, along which trains can travel at fifty miles per hour and even greater speed ; and that it has advantages in the way of climate and scenery which cannot be afforded by way of the proposed canal. And, further, it is not only a question of a through route between Europe and Australasia which is under consideration, but of travel and trade to and from Canada—the " half-way house "of the Empire—and between the Dominion and New Zealand and Australia. For these reasons lam still strong in my faith that the all-red route as the British highway between the different parts of the Empire is sure to become popular, and that it will not be subject to much interference by the Panama Canal—which at the best must take many years to complete. In order to bring the all-red route into operation, a considerable sum of money will be required in the way of assistance. Any company or organization which undertook the service would have to raise large funds to construct the steamers and to carry on the work. No scheme of the kind could be self-supporting from the outset. large undertaking of that nature can be ? If it were left entirely to private enterprise it might take years, or a generation, before it was brought into being ; there would be the chance that foreign countries might take it up, obtain the control of the routes, gather the passenger trade largely into their own hands, and make a bid also for commercial supremacy in our dominions. Our competitors are apt to realise to a greater extent than we do that Government assistance is necessary for these purposes ;we see examples of it in many ways. In recent years, the competition of other nations for the trade and commerce of our colonies has been very strenuous, and is likely to be even more so in the future. The less the inclination that is shown on our part to promote closer unity, to realise the grand ideal of developing the Empire for the material benefit of our race, the more will outside countries endeavour to secure the advantages upon which we are inclined perhaps to look too lightly. We must remember also that younger generations are growing up who may not be as strong as their fathers in the intensity of their Imperial enthusiasm unless they are met to a certain extent by those whom they regard as their partners in this common heritage of ours. It seems to me unwise to look upon this scheme, which has for its object the well-being of the Empire at large, and the welding-together of its different peoples, with any local prejudice or insular narrowness—we must regard it from the broad standpoint of citizens of the Empire. The colonies do not ask the Mother-country to bear the whole burden of the expense of the all-red route. Canada is prepared to pay its share, so is New Zealand and Australia, and even the smaller possessions en route which may receive benefits from its establishment. Assistance to the same extent would not always be needed. Surely we may look forward to the time when it will be self-supporting, when any payments would simply be in consideration of services rendered—whether for the conveyance of mails or the provision of a fleet of speedy vessels capable of convertibility into armed cruisers. The development of steam navigation in the Atlantic could never have been as rapid as it was but for the assistance given by the Home Government to the Cunard Line in the early days of the new propelling-power, and even then the voyage occupied fourteen days ; and the same thing may be said of the subsidies given to the Allan Line by the Government of Canada when regular steam services to and from Canada were inaugurated. Help was extended not long ago to a British company, as already mentioned, to enable it to hold its own against foreign combination, aiming at monopoly on the Atlantic, although the company traded to a foreign port. Millions were lent at a low rate of interest, and subsidies were given in addition. All this was done without a murmur ; indeed, the Government was applauded for its action. Therefore I cannot bring myself to believe that the United Kingdom will hesitate to join hands with its fellow-subjects in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, and withhold the financial assistance necessary for the utilisation of this new British route.. Indeed, we know that the Home Government joined in the resolution at the Conference, at which the following interesting references were made, in the course of the debates, respecting colonial contributions to the proposed service :— Sir Wilfrid Laurier stated, " Canada will have to contribute liberally, perhaps more liberally than others because it will have to contribute to both sides—both Pacific and Atlantic. .... If it (that i's, a fast service on the Pacific) can be done by spending money I may say that they are prepared to go as far as any Government interested in overcoming the difficulties." Mr. Deakin stated, " Australian interest in the Pacific trade is as great as that of Canada in getting direct communication as suggested, on terms that the Commonwealth can afford." Sir Joseph Ward stated, " New Zealand is now authorised to spend the sum of £40,000 a year for the Pacific service, £20,000 to that via San Francisco, and £20,000 to that via Vancouver. lam prepared to say that our country would be ready to give £100,000 a year without a moment's hesitation in order to get a fast service across the Pacific, if it were one of, say, twenty days, or three weeks .... New Zealand is, beyond all doubt, willing to give her proportion for such service on the Pacific between Canada and New Zealand, so as to make the other portion of the link between the Colonies and the If we want to do a great thing for Great Britain and outlying British countries,|let us be prepared to pay the necessary money for it, and bend our efforts to bring these countries into close touch with England, which can be done provided we are prepared to pay enough for it.

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