A—s.

ply there at all but for them. We paid them an extra subsidy for the assistance in the New Hebrides, of our settlers, the British settlers. We induced those steamers in consequence of our subsidy to lower their freights for maize 75 per cent. Those settlers have been sending their maize to the markets of Sydney at only 25 per cent, of what they paid before we intervened, so that we are not only helping them by a grant, but reduce their freights to 25 per cent, of the ordinary rate. Yet it is alleged here that we have never lifted a finger for them but only to tax and impede them. We became indirectly the controlling power, although not the owners, of certain lands in the New Hebrides, and we made these available for British settlers at the nominal figure of a shilling a year for 50 acres. That was in order to give those who had not sufficient land there, or others they could bring with them, an opportunity of making a living in the group. What has the United Kingdom ever done for its settlers outside its territory to compare with this? * , I have now finished the story of what we did for the settlers in the New Hebrides, and why we resent a good deal of the criticism to which we have been subjected in regard to them. CHAIRMAN : I would like to say at once that there is no doubt on the part of His Majesty's Government of the importance of the Pacific, and I entirely agree with "Mr. Deakin, that the aim must be that as between the United Kingdom and the Dominions beyond the Seas there should be no difference whatever with regard to the interests we feel in them. I did not know the extent to which Mr. Deakin was going into the past history of this subject, and I am not prepared to follow him throughout, and I do not know that he will expect me to do so. I think be admitted that the actual authority of Great Britain was subject to some limitations in the Pacific and had always been. Mr. DEAKIN : Tt extended as far as " Tahiti." CHAIRMAN : Mr. Deakin said that it was "indefinitely" under British authority, and I think another expression he used was, that Australia " practically had" more extensive interests than had been admitted. lam not sure that that carries us very far, because, after all, we have to bear in mind that when you convert indefinite interests into actual interests you assume an amount of responsibility, and you become liable to an amount of cost which does not apply to the indefinite possession, and of course we in thiscountry, though we are willing and desirous to do all that we can to protect the Dominions beyond the Seas, and have been so in the past and now hope to be equally energetic with your assistance, there is a.limit to the extensions which we can contemplate, and certainly to the rapidity with which those are made. If other nations-which after all we cannot exclude from interest in the Pacific Ocean—have advanced and established themselves in certain parts of it, I do not think [hat is quite justifiable to impute to us on that account that we have caused what I think Mr. Deakin described as a sense of aggravated loss to the Commonwealth or to Australasia. At all events, if there has been that sense, T hope that he will take into account the other considerations to which I have drawn attention and believe that it was not at any rate from any intention, I am sure of our predecessors any more than"it is of ourselves to cause aggravated loss, or in any way to undervalue the sense of interest which I can understand is more present to them out there than perhaps it is possible that we should feel I do not think that I shall serve any useful purpose if I follow through the detarls of the history of the New Hebrides which Mr. Deakin has giyem Iwl on V just remark this, that lam informed with regard to the British Resident "that he has a legal status, and I know that the amount which he

[fourteenth Day. 9 May 1907.

British Interests in the Pacific. (Mr. Deakin.)

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