/(fWfw of Reviftce, SO/i/Oii. 



History of the Month. 



,i3i 



is too ridiculous for anything but scorn. The only 

 thing desired is that a working basis should be ar- 

 rived at in the most friendly and amicable way. 

 The question resol\-es itself into two issues — a joint 

 administration or a partition. The latter might 

 possess certain advantages, but there is really no 

 reason why a joint commission should not fulfil all 

 that is necessary. It would at any rate form a good 

 object lesson to the world in what can be done in 

 concert by two nations. It is surprising that no 

 details of the ConfeRmce have come to hand, and 

 seems to indicate a culpable laxity on the part of 

 the Colonial Office. We have been dependent upon 

 newspaper cables for what meagre news we ha\-«- 

 had, instead of Iwing fully informed by the Colonial 

 Office. But France may be quite sure that Australia 

 has no intention of suggesting any other than the 

 fair thing. The spirit of Australasia is too peaceful 

 to desire otherwise, besides which it frankly recog- 

 nises the rights which that country has obtained 

 there. There has been much friction, there is no 

 doubt, and the condition of things at present can 

 not go on without the engendering of future .strife. 

 All we desire is that British subjects shall have their 

 full rights, that the rights of the vast mis.sionar\ 

 enterprises there shall h<i safeguarded, and that our 

 own rights to whatever strategic advantages may 

 accrue from the geographical position may l>e se- 

 cured. 



Mr. Kidston is not to be envied. At 

 the beginning of next year he will 

 ha\e on his hands a huge family of 

 6000 Kanakas, whom it will l>e ille- 

 gal to employ, but who will require to be provided 

 for, either by actual sui^port, or by removal to 

 islands of the South Seas. There seems to be some- 

 what of an impasse, for while the Commonwealth 

 Government says it is the business of Queensland to 

 see to the proper deportation of the islanders. Mj-. 

 Kidston says that the very serious difficulties which 

 will have to be faced liave been created by the Fede- 

 ral Government, and that it must take the responsi- 

 bilitv. It is about time that arrangements were 

 being made bv somebody. Tt is not conceivable that 

 the Kanakas will be allowed to remain idle, for 6000 

 of them, accustomed to constant work, and thrown 

 suddenly into idleness, would be a menace to the 

 safetv of the people, while it is also not likely that 

 either State or Federal Government will be willing 

 to pav their living expenses for any length of time. 

 The proper thing, therefore, to do, is to investigate 

 the possibilities c.f South Sea Island settlement im- 

 mediatelv, and so to have evervthing in train that 

 the Kanakas may on theist January, without any 

 delay, lie safely remo\'ed to their future homes. 

 Eight or nine months is quite short enough to make 

 adequate arrangements. Both Governments know 

 perfectly well that it is more than the lives of some 

 of the natives are worth to return them to the places 

 from which thev came. It is no use for both Go- 



The 



looming Kanaka 

 Difficulty. 



Mtlba,\ [Photo. 



Mrs. Nolan, 



Tl.e newl,v-«le<t€d President of tlie Australi.-iii W.( .T.U. 



\ernments to say that the responsibility is the other s ; 

 that is childish in the extreme. The difficulty is 

 there, and needs settling, and it is the duty of tlie 

 man on the spc-t, and the Federal (jovernment, to 

 help one another out of the difficulty in the best way. 

 A little friendly chat about the matter between Mr. 

 Kidston and Mr. Deakin .it the Premiers' Confer- 

 ence would almost certainly bring about a solution of 

 the difficulty. 



As we go to press the Conference 

 The Premiers' of State Premiers in Sydney is sit- 

 Conference. ting. One very satisfactory fea- 

 ture of the proceedings will be the 

 presence of Mr. Deakin. he having been invited 

 to attend and discuss certain matters of mutual Fede- 

 r.al and State interest. One cannot help hailing with 

 delight this \ery evident desire to break down the 

 wall that has been raised lietween the State and the 

 I'ederal Governments. It seemed at one time as 

 though the States were determined to regard the 

 Federal Government as necessarily antagonistic. 

 Under such conditions progress would be impossible. 

 The functions of the Federal Government must as 

 time goes on, necessarily extend, those of the States 

 in certain matters be curtailed, dealing more and 

 more with purely domestic legislation ; and this is 

 most likelv to be brought about in the manner now 



