LAISSEZ FAIRE 
and people diminishes the wealth and population of the 
mother-country ; it has never done so, it has always increased 
both population and wealth at home.” “Every fresh im- 
portation of food by means of exporting more manufactured 
goods is an enlargement of the field of production, is like an 
acreable increase of our land; and has a tendency to abolish 
and prevent injurious competition. This was the best argu- 
ment for the repeal of our corn laws” Mr Mill re-enforced 
a similar doctrine. “ There needs be no hesitation,” he says, 
“in affirming that colonisation, in the present state of the 
world is the very best affair of business in which the capital 
of an old and wealthy country can possibly engages.” The 
necessity of preserving coaling stations and harbours for our 
commerce, such as Vancouver, has been another motive which 
has brought the economic importance of distant possessions 
into light, and has contributed not a little to the change of 
sentiment on the subject. 
The sense of grievance on the part of colonists was 
greatly reduced, when the wise policy of granting them 
the fullest possible measure of responsible government was 
initiated. The seventeenth century tradition of political 
institutions had been perpetuated in all the Colonies, and 
the assemblies had had power to harass but not to control 
and steps the executive authority. The problem of developing effective 
were taken - ” . : 
both in administration by a representative body was worked out in 
Janads Canada under circumstances of exceptional difficulty, from 
the conflict of interest between the two provinces, from the 
traditions of the French population in Quebec’, and the 
pretensions of the loyalist refugees and older colonists in 
Toronto®, The wisdom and courage of Lord Durham did 
much to solve the difficulty in Canada; the system he 
established was adopted in 1855, with appropriate modifi- 
ad New cations, in Australia, and through Mr Wakefield's influence 
introduce 10 New Zealand as well”. The importance of Lord Durham’s 
responsible achievement was very imperfectly appreciated at the time: 
R62 
| Wakefield, Art of Colonisation, 92. 8 Tbh. 89. 
8 Principles of Political Economy, Bk. v. ch. xi. § 14 (People’s edition, p. 586). 
i Bourinot, Canada under British Rule, 125. s Ib. 140. 
8 Jenks, History of the Australian (olonies, 238. § 7b. 247.