LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
QUEENSLAND AND THE NAVAL DEFENCE BILL.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—Being abroad, I have only just seen the Spectator of August 4th, with " L.'s "letter on" Queensland and the Naval Defence Bill." With your permission, I should like to reply to the two issues raised by "L."
There is in Queensland, as well as in other parts of Australia, a growing tendency towards the formation of an independent Australian nation ; and if the English people know little of the movement, it is because those at home only come across the wealthy or official classes of Australia, and not the Australian people. With an enthusiasm which can only be compared with that which existed in England at the out- burst of the regrettable Crimean War, the Australians sent their contingent to the Soudan ; but when the Bill had to be met, their enthusiasm had cooled considerably, and the New South Wales Government received some very plain expressions of opinion as to their action in sending the contingent. When Sir Thomas McIlwraith, therefore, spoke of the Australian National Party, he was quite in accord with Australian feeling. If I may be permitted to explain the tendency of the age at the Antipodes, I should say that before long every Colony will be Protectionist,—in spite, I am sorry to say it, of Sir Harry Parkes's very vigorous Free-trade policy in New South Wales. Then will follow intercolonial Free-trade and Protection against the world ; and finally, with the help of the Federal Council, the Australians will declare themselves an in- dependent nation, with West Australia probably as the Canada of the South. I do not think the Australians are wanting in loyalty to the old country ; but they are a young and vigorous race, who "feel their life in every limb," and see that their affiance with England must sooner or later prevent their own expansion, or bring them into conflict with other nations. Witness the present Chinese difficulty. The Australians cannot deal directly with China, and England cannot get what she would perhaps like to obtain, because she would have in return to make concessions in Tibet. Witness also the intense desire of Australians to see an end to the French criminal out- pourings close to her shores, and the half-hearted way in which England settles the matter. This question, I can assure you, Sir, from personal knowledge, is a very sore one in Australia, and Australians believe that if they were an Antipodean Republic, they would meet with more courtesy from the French than they do at present. Finally, why should Australia be called upon to pay away annually large sums for naval defence in case of wars, in the settlement of quarrels in which she has no voice, and which, if she were a Republic going peacefully her own way, would never be required ?
The second issue raised by "L." is what I think most Queenelanders will resent as a quite unwarrantable slur on their politics, and on Mr. Morehead, the present Postmaster- General, in particular. As politics go nowadays, they are certainly carried on with far greater decorum in Queensland than in some places nearer home ; and as to the bitterness "L." complains of, it is very true, as he says, that Sir Samuel Griffith was the first to import it into local politics. No one will, I think, for a moment doubt the great ability of the late Premier, but supporters of the present party in power cannot forget that he and his party opposed the Mail Service and the Divi- sional Boards (County Parliament) Bills, two Acts which have been of incalculable service to the Colony.—I am, Sir, &c., Hr. LING ROTH.
Villa Beaujeu, Divonne-les-Bains, August 13th.
Previous page
