FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

E.—No. 2.

28

Objection. between the two countries, but how this communication can best be effected, and on the most economical terms. 9th. That if this renewed demand for assistance in the postal services via Torres Straits and Panama was yielded to, the question would not be settled, because, in addition to the services now called for, application would soon be made for a second monthly service via Suez and King George's Sound; and finally, His Grace states, — 10th. " That, having regard to all the interests concerned, to those of the Mother Country, and to the general benefit,as distinguished from matters arising from rivalry and local considerations, of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand, I feel bound, in the discharge of my public duty, to recommend your Lordships not to comply" with the present application.

Answer. tions of economy (which is the only question to be considered in the matter), Her Majesty's Government is advised to resist. It is much to be regretted that such sentiments should have been expressed, especially when the facts of the case present the subject in a totally different light. The feelings of rivalry which have been exhibited during the discussion of this question have been displayed in a single Colony only ; certainly not without result, as His Grace appears to attach the greatest weight to the opinion there entertained, to the total exclusion of all others. When the cause of this rivalry is examined into, it will be seen to arise from the selfish desire manifested (not by the majority or by the governing powers) but by a minority to obtain exclusive advantages for themselves, and at the expense of the other Colonies. With regard to local considerations directing the action of the Colonies, it is difficult to imagino what other motives could be supposed to influence them, when the sole question was that of service in return for expenditure. Confining the question to this Colony, —from its geographical position it is evident that, whatever route was adopted, in one and all Sydney must be the last port of arrival and the first of departure, while the period occupied by the voyage would be the same in all. The only possible exclusive advantage this Colony could derive from any service would be the benefit conferred upon the port by the refitting of the vessels employed. Now, did the line of conduct pursued by this Colony, during the deliberations which preceded the adoption of the Memorial to Her Majesty, show that such motives of action could with any truth or justice be imputed to it ? On the contrary, waiving all local considerations, and looking only to the very great benefits which united action on the part of the Australian Colonies would confer upon all, and looking also to the fact, as expressed by His Grace, that " whatever would inflict postal injury on any of the Colonies, would likewise injure the Mother Country," this Colony at once proposed to take upon herself a much larger share of the common burthen than the advantages she would receive under the proposed scheme could have rendered her liable to. The Colonies thought, and still think, that the magnitude of the commerce now existing between the United Kingdom and Australia did form a very important element in the question under discussion ; and as, in the various discussions with Her Majesty's Government on the various postal schemes from time to time submitted for consideration, the Imperial Authorities had always laid peculiar stress upon the point that the Colonies should pay a moioty of the cost whatever that might be, they did not anticipate an objection of this nature arising on the part of Her Majesty's Government. Each Colony felt that, in making any individual arrangement for postal communication with Great Britain, the advantages of which (whatever they might be) would be equally enjoyed by the Colony and the Mother Country, the cost of such service should be equally borne by the parties interested, and that Her Majesty's Government would not confine such a measure ofjustice to a single Colony, but would place others on a similar footing. If individual Colonies had entered into the separate arrangements necessary to meet exclusively their