ux demand of the Government of Queensland that the colony should be consulted before appointments to the Governorship have been made has been discussed in the leading newspapers st Iyome and in the colonies. The surrender, as it is called, of Lord Kuutsford and the Colonial Office has been severely claimed by constitutional authorities, but when Queensland had put forward her claim it is difficult to see what could otherwise have been done. It appears that this is not the first time that Colonies have asked to be consulted, or! to have the name of the gentleman' whom it was intended to appoint! cessful. Sir Samuel Griffiths, then Premier of Queensland, was accused of Inperialistic—that isEvglish—leanings, and had assented to the defence plans, and therefore Sir Thomas Mellwraith went to the opposite extreme, and obtained a majority in the Colonial rubly. His opinions seem to be fairly summarised in "No Defence Bill; no Iuperialism; National Independence."
And just as Mr, Gladstone stated that be had been long a Home Ruler before he announced the fact, so his Queensland imitator said that the sentiment of Independeuce had long been working within him. It was not the wish, he said, of the National party to separate from England innneately, but no doubt separation would come later on. Of course there are vast area and the largest. population of any colony of the group. Nevertheless the paramount influence in the national counsels will always belong to the colony which maintains. the broadest, and most advanced views on public affairs, so that Victoria can confidently anticipate that she will never be a quautité neqligeable in the confedera tion." The sat come of complete Colonial Federation would be that, among otter benefits, such questions as are either now troublesome, or likely to become so, jstch as the appointment of Governors, would be got rid of, and probably also ithe silly talk about Independence. A Governor-General, to act on the advice lof the Federal Ministers, would take the {place of Governors for each Colony, For such a position only men of the governor submitted to them, and that other principles than separatic~ ix the highest eminciice would be selected, the Colonial Office has alw: ys declined Queensland National party, but -hat is! and then the opinions of New South But these demands have! the main one, and unfortunately the W, es on the appointment of Colonial been made privately, we think, whereas injudicious conduct of the late Gover- Governor—that only persons who have Queensland let all the world know at nor and the feebleness of Lo~l Knuts- j occupied high positions in public life once that she had advanced her claim. ford have allowed it to two should be sent—and also the demands This having been done, there were triumphs in the first year o. fof Queensland which South Australia obvious reasons why the Colonial office ence as a political force. shared—would be acceded to. So long should reconsider' the appointment Meanwhile the colonies intend to Jas Englishmen and Scotsmen in the which had been made, and also why hold another meeting of the Federal Colonies stoop to gain the Irish vote the gentleman who had been made Council this year. This body called there will be danger of such politicians Governor of the Colony should not into existence by an Act of Parliament and schemers as Sir Thomas Meflwraith be desirous of taking up the post. introduced by the Gladstone ministry endeavouring to make policial capital Accordingly we have learned that} in 1885, and carried through by Lord by creating ill feeling with the mother another Governor has been appointed, Salisbury's Cabinet, which enabled the country. Federation would reduce such in other words that Queensland has whole of the South Pacific Colonies to persons to their proper position. had her way. In some quarters this federate, and of which only New South is considered a great triumph for Sir
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.