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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 76

From the Fiji Times, June 23, 1900

From the Fiji Times, June 23, 1900.

Sir,—I have read with a great amount of interest the letter re Federation by Mr. Humphry Berkeley, published in your issue of Saturday last, and would like to ask that page 12 gentleman a question or two in connection therewith, as I must confess to being unable to understand all he says. He has written a beautiful description of the results of Federation, and no doubt there is a deal of truth in some of his assertions, but the modern Utopia he has built is not to be gained so easily. Unless he at the commencement has some sure foundation to work upon, he will find that the colossal structure he has erected in imagination will never be a reality. Federation is a beautiful word suggesting a unity; marriage is also suggestive of the same thing; and the late Sir Henry Parkes, the pioneer of Federation in New South Wales, said he could give no better definition of the word "Federation" than by comparing it to a happy married life, where the parties were living each for the interest of the other.

I would like to ask Mr. Berkeley what he considers to be the best way for raising the revenue for the purpose of financing the Confederation, or at least our share of it. This is a most important point—and as he is silent on the matter it must be taken for granted that he can see plainly a way out of the difficulty. But there are many besides myself who would like him to explain in a clear manner where the money is to come from. There are various groups that are not in a position to contribute a great deal. Fiji, by making use of coolie labour has forged ahead and made a name for herself commercially. If I remember rightly we now export to the Chelsea (N.Z.) refinery £200,000 worth of sugar annually. This speaks well for us; but how are we going to galvanise into activity the sleepy Polynesian races and make them contribute their quota to financing the Confederacy. The white man must have a say in the matter. No doubt Federation would be the means of settling much of what now appears to be insurmountable, but before we can have it we must see our way financially. Would Mr. Berkeley please enlighten the public on this point?

Then I would like to know how he is going to constitute an island council? There are a great many difficulties in the road. The Auckland Star, in a leading article on the subject, says:—"The initial difficulty of representation in an Island Council is a problem not easy of solution. While all but a fraction of the inhabitants are natives, their educational and mental limitations would forbid their being allowed representation in proportion to their numbers in a constitutional page 13 government. The expedient of a Lower Chamber representative of the aboriginal population and upper or revising Chamber of Europeans, cither elected or holding office by virtue of appointment by the Governor, carries with it the drawback of almost inevitable frictions. The latter was, however, practically the form of government suggested by the tripartite commission for Samoa, and might, on a larger scale, prove workable." On this matter, perhaps Mr. Berkeley will kindly give us his views. There are many other things to be thrashed out which are omitted in this letter, but I have no doubt you will be inundated with correspondence on the subject, so I conclude by assuring Mr. Berkeley that I am an ardent Federalist, and shall be glad to assist in any way, but I want adult suffrage and not property franchise as he suggests.

—I am, &c.,

Thos. Sowden.