The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1875.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 246, 24 March 1875, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1875.

The address of Sir George Grey to the electors of Auckland in the Choral Hall, on Monday evening last, is certainly a remarkable production. His views on colonial policy, and the steps necessary to knit the bond of union between the mother country and the various branches of the colonial empire evince a breadth of statesmanship quiterefreshinginthesedegeneratedays. The man who will succeed in carrying a plan which will unite into one grand whole the scattered branches of the colonial empire, and convert the British Empire into one great power having common interests, and a common policy, will take his place as the greatest statesman Britain has ever produced. The tendency of late has been all in the other direction. The utilitarian school of politicians have al ways acted towards the colonies as if the day were fast arriving when each should start on its own account. They grudge the few paltry pounds necessary to keep up even the semblance of union, and hail with pleasure every indication on the part of any colony of a spirit of independence. But there are signs of a change in this respect in the tone of public feeling in England. The Ministry now in power signalised their advent to office by a further increase in our colonial possessions by the annexation of Eiji, and they are not ashamed to speak with respect of colonisation. This is a hopeful sign, and an indication that the people of Great Britain are beginning to see that a permanent union with her ever-increasing colonial empire will bo a source, not of weakness, but of great strengt h in the future. But the relation which bind those scattered provinces must .be made stronger than it is at present. The plan of pro-consulargovernorships must be abandoned. Sir George Grey, suggests that the sum expended in keeping up vice-regal pomp, should be expended in another form. We agree with him in thinking that the present system is radically bad. Many Governors by their absurd and arrogant conduct annoy the colonists as the Queen’s representative, and only widen the breach which their presencein the colony is intended to unite. Sir George Grey would have the Governors salaries expended in the payment of a Colonial representative in London who would be a member of Her Majesty’s Privy

Council, and through whom all communications with the colony would be made There are difficulties in the way of carrying out such a proposal. Being members of the Privy Council, the colonial representatives would have a voice in the management of the affairs of the entire Empire, which the home authorities would be slow to concede, unless the colonies were taxed equally with Great Britain for Imperial purposes. There are no doubt other difficulties in the way, but surely it is possible to overcome them ; for unless some such plan is adopted, the day must come when one after another of the colonies must start on its own account, and wo will never believe that a united free Empire which shall include all the scattered members of the British race is an impossibility.