354 Tvmehri. 



thing in England ; the interests of the textile manufacturers of Lancashire 

 were quite different from those of the agriculturists of Norfolk, and the 

 interests of the woollen manufacturers of Yorkshire different from those 

 of the leather-makers of Northampton, and yet the whole of England 

 was one Kingdom governed hy one body, and the whole thing worked 

 exceedingly well. It therefore seemed to him that the mere fact of the 

 colonies not having identical interests in no way militated against the 

 final accomplishment and successful working of federation. If he were 

 right in his deductions it seemed to him that it was their duty to try to 

 assist and direct the movement in the right way. The movement must 

 come, it could be delayed by opposition or it could be expedited by 

 careful action, and they in this colony and the West Indies should guide 

 it in the right direction, so that when federation did come it would be 

 with the least possible inconvenience and the maximum amount of good 

 to the various colonies which would come within it. 



The Way to an Understanding. 



To a certain extent federation had already commenced by the union 

 of some of the islands — the Leeward and Windward groups, and with 

 Tobago as a ward of Trinidad. He quite admitted that it would be 

 utterly impossible for anybody to sit down now and draft a constitution 

 for a West Indian Dominion. The course to be pursued was for the 

 various colonies to find subjects of common interest on which they could 

 unite for various purposes and this would gradually bring them closer 

 together and eventually lead to union for all purposes. The 

 islands in this part of the Caribbean had already united for one 

 common purpose — quarantine — and he understood there was a move- 

 ment on foot for some kind of common action in respect of Customs 

 administration. That would go on and they would find from time to 

 time various subjects on which they could work together and in this 

 manner federation would gradually ensue. In connection Math this sub- 

 ject there was one on which he thought all the colonies could unite with 

 advantage ; that was a Court of Appeal for the w T hole of the West 

 Indies. As a Judge of one of the Colonies he felt great interest in this 

 proposal. It was not a new proposal by any means. Twenty years ago 

 it was first mooted. Barbados had actually taken steps to get a Court 

 of Appeal for itself, but, if they would forgive him criticising them that 

 scheme would not work unless there was reciprocity, and it must apply 

 not to one colony but to the whole lot. But the scheme had so many 

 things to recommend it that if it were brought prominently forward and 

 properly considered the various colonies must see the advantage of it. 

 Previously it was not possible as means of communication between the 

 colonies were difficult, but now with better facilities for travelling and 

 better means of access to the various colonies it could be carried out. 



One objection made to it, and his friend Mr. Nunan gave utterance 

 to it, was that there were various systems of law, particularly our own, 

 and that the scheme could not be carried out until this colony had got 

 rid of its Roman-Dutch law and adopted English law. He hoped Mr. 

 Nunan would forgive him if he said that he did not agree with him. He 



