Page:The founding of South Australia.djvu/116

 "V. The corporation would meddle with what belongs to the Colonial Office.

"Answer. What is it that belongs to the Colonial Office? Not the deserts of South Australia, nor the families who wish to settle there, nor the money which is ready to be advanced for founding and governing the colony. The corporation would meddle with nothing but a colony which remains to be founded, and that which is not yet in existence cannot belong to the Colonial Office.

"VI. The charter will diminish the powers of the Colonial Office.

"Answer. Not so; for as to no part of the subject-matter of the charter did the Colonial Office ever exercise any power whatsoever. That over which the corporation would exercise a much restricted power remains to be created. But the charter would add to the power of the Colonial Office by creating, where now there are only savages and kangaroos, a colony, over which the Colonial Minister would, by means of the conditions, restrictions, and reservations of the grant, exercise much control.

"VII. The corporation might establish a republic in New Holland.

"Answer. With the help of the Colonial Minister, the King, and Parliament, but not without, as no law framed for the colony is to take effect without the express approval of the Secretary of State, and, as the Parliament reserves to the King and Parliament the office of framing a constitution for the colony, the word 'republic' seems to be used, like the term imperium in imperio, only for the purpose of exciting prejudice.

"VIII. The Colonial Office is ready to find proper persons to found and govern the colony.

"Answer. Be it so; but then the Colonial Office must find the money and take the responsibility. In that case the colony would be formed according to the French or Turkish principle of central authority,