HC Deb 13 April 1910 vol 16 cc1238-9
Mr. LYNCH

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the statement on behalf of the Government on 30th September of last year in this House that an objection existed in regard to the use of the terms "Colony" or "Colonial" as applied to Australia, and that the practice was well settled of making use of the correct expressions, "Commonwealth" or "States," and in view, moreover, of the opinion expressed by public bodies in Australia that the terms "Colony" and "Colonial" are inapplicable and objectionable, he will take care to avoid the use of such terms in any communications, written or verbal, on the part of the Government and discourage their employment in the House of Commons?

Colonel SEELY

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The word "Colony" is not used in official communications referring to the Australian Commonwealth or States.

Mr. LYNCH

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in to-day's Notice Paper Australia is referred to under the general title of "Colonial."

Colonel SEELY

It is impossible to alter the whole phraseology. My Noble Friend in another place is Secretary for the Colonies and I am Under-Secretary for the Colonies. Any hostility to that description may be due to myself and not to the word "Colony," which may be objected to by some persons in Australia. No doubt the word "Dominions" is more accurate. But "Colonies" is a good old-fashioned word, regarded with much affection by persons in other portions of the Empire, notably in Cape Colony, where the word "Colony" is regarded with real genuine satisfaction.

Mr. LYNCH

But why persist in making use of a term which is admittedly inaccurate and is offensive when applied to many people in Australia?

Colonel SEELY

I have endeavoured to explain that we do not use the word "Colony" with regard to the Australian Commonwealth or States, because the words "Dominion" or "Commonwealth" would be more accurate; but in referring to the whole Dominions of the Crown the word "Colonial" must be used. No substitute for it has yet been found.