1134 ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATION [parTV 
In the autumn of 1874, Lord Carnarvon, then Secretary 
of State for the Colonies, suggested to the Governments of 
New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and New Zealand, 
that as they were specially interested in the annexation 
which had been decided upon in Australian interests, they 
should recognize their position by the payment of a small 
annual sum, not to exceed in any case £4,000, towards the 
probable deficit in the local revenue. 
New South Wales was ready to consider the suggestion, 
but the Government of Queensland was not prepared to 
make any contribution. Victoria was somewhat reluctant, 
and New Zealand would not contribute without a voice in the 
direction of the administration. The Imperial Government 
accordingly took the full burden of the expenditure upon 
itself, and abandoned the proposal of obtaining financial 
assistance with regard to Fiji. 
The question, however, was raised in a new form in 1875 
by recommendations from the Governments of New South 
Wales, South Australia, and Queensland in favour of the 
annexation of New Guinea? In a dispatch of December 8, 
Lord Carnarvon indicated the view taken by His Majesty’s 
Government with regard to the whole position. It was 
contended that the possession of New Guinea and of other 
Western Pacific Islands would be of value to the Empire 
generally, and conduce specially to the peace and safety of 
Australia and the development of Australian trade, and 
the prevention of crime throughout the Pacific, and that the 
establishment of a foreign power in the neighbourhood of 
Australia would be injurious to British, and more particularly 
to Australian interests. He laid stress upon the fact that 
no offer had been made to contribute towards the cost of 
the administration of the territory it was proposed to annex. 
The only interest which would accrue to the Empire at large, 
as far as he could see, was the advantage of Australia. 
England had done enough to discharge her duty of main- 
* See Parl. Pap., C. 1566, Appendix, pp. 85, 86. Cf. Quick and Garran. 
Constitution of Commonwealth, pp. 637 seq. 
: Qee Parl. Pap., C. 1566 ; Rusden, Australia, iii, 603 seq.