John West, Australia, History, Federal government, Federation, Australasian league, Constitutional history 

To Australian historians, the Reverend John West (1808-73) is well known as a writer of history. His place as a maker of history has long been obscured by latecomers who lives to see the achievements of Federation, and to take the bulk of the credit for it. This book, containing John West's essays on Federation of the Colonies that he called The Australias, returns him his rightful place in the continuing story of the Australian nation.  

Content:
I. The need for a union - distance from Britain - community of interests - 'The Australias are one'
II. Functions reserved to the Crown and to the British government - functions of 'a great council of the Australian world'
III. Diversity of colonial governments - success of the American union - retention of the Crown - curtailing parochial power - preventing dominance of one colony
IV. The Colonial Office - relationship to government - ignorance of colonial realities
V. Dangers of unbridled local power - restrictions to trade and migration between colonies
VI. The growth of empires - balancing effect to local associations - dangers of centralism
VII. Government, strong but not arbitrary - moral rather than military influence - more liberty under broader government
VIII. The conquest of distance
IX. Dangers of imitation, whether of the United Kingdom or the United States
X. Need for a larger pool to provide suitable legislators - dangers of mediocrity and populism - deterrents to public service
XI. General government must not destroy 'organisations' which protect local and minute concerns'
XII. Advantages of a common heritage and language
XIII. Independence not natural right - may become necessary - devolution prepared for mature independence
XIV. The seat of government - remote of close to seat of population - prosperity dependent on trade and industry, not on possession of seat of government - danger of separation from influence of the Press
XV. [never published]
XVII. The New Zealand 'experiment'
XVIII. The success of the United States - the Senate as moderator of popular power - judicial independence - free Press.  

Includes biographical references and index.
Categorized by publisher, then author, then date.