SECOND READING. (Hansard, 9 July 1885)

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Colonel STANLEY)
Sir, the Bill I have the honour to ask the House to read a second time is one 221 which, as the House is probably aware, was introduced in "another place" by my noble Relative and Predecessor in Office. I do not propose to enter into any discussion of controversial matter; for having in view the time of year in which we approach the subject, the House will, perhaps, allow me to suggest that if the second reading is taken tonight, we should take the Committee stage of the Bill at such a time as will give a fair opportunity for discussion. I think that course would be rather for the convenience of the House. Hon. Members will see that this is merely an enabling Bill based upon certain Resolutions adopted by the Colonies after considerable discussion, and after the subject had been thoroughly threshed out. It was in pursuance of the Resolution of 1883 that my noble Relative introduced this Bill, which gives power to the Colonies to form a Federal Council for certain purposes, which purposes, without the sanction of the Imperial Legislature, would be ultra vires. I think there is practically no difference of opinion on the principle of the Bill; and although I must admit that considerable discussion may hereafter arise as to one clause, I would ask the House to postpone that discussion until the Committee stage, one of the reasons for that course being that certain Papers are not yet in the hands of hon. Members. I may mention that one document which reached me to-day on coming down to the House contains information which, I think, the House should bo possessed of before going into this question. Without further remarks, therefore, I make this appeal on the understanding that a fair opportunity will be given for discussion on the Bill on going into Committee. In these circumstances, I propose to name this day week for the Motion for going into Committee, by which time I will do my best to have the Papers printed and in the hands of hon. Members.

§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL
said, that, under the circumstances, he should not object to the course proposed by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, although he had a Notice on the Paper 222 with respect to the Bill. He doubted, however, that it could be said that this Bill was wanted, or was approved by some of the Colonies. There was one clause in the Bill of which he certainly very much disapproved; but he understood from the statement of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman that the House would be free to discuss the clauses, and accept or reject them as they thought fit.

§ MR. HEALY
said, it appeared to him that a Bill of this kind was not likely to improve the state of things in the Colonies, where questions sometimes arose even graver than those, he would not say between England and Scotland, but between England and Ireland. The Bill might be an admirable measure as far as it went, but he believed it was brought in without any distinct desire on the part of some of the Colonies. It was all very well to have a Federation of the Colonies; but it was when any of the States desired to leave the Federation that the crux would come. The right hon. and gallant Gentleman said that this was merely an enabling Bill; but if the time should come when some of the States wanted to secede there would then, perhaps, arise a state of civil war, and that he regarded as the worst thing in connection with a Bill of this character. Of course, ho did not say that the Bill would lead to that; but having regard to the state of affairs in the Colonies, the immense distances between them, uncovered by railways as in the United States, he scarcely believed that a Bill of this kind could be a success. He thought Her Majesty's Government should take a high standpoint in the matter. For his own part, he had no objection to the Motion of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, and ho sincerely hoped that the measure would be successful.

§ MR. BIGGAR
said, his objection to. the Bill was that it was permissive only, and he regarded the time spent upon it as time wasted. Unless the Government were prepared with some well-considered plan, he thought it would be very much better that they should not enter into legislation of this sort.