In this 150th anniversary of the creation of Canada, we are looking back at editorials published in our predecessor newspaper in 1867.
British Columbia was still a colony, administered by appointees from England. This newspaper celebrated the departure of one of those men.
The colonists of British Columbia will be relieved by the departure of an official who has done much to blight their fortunes and to destroy all their energy had been endeavouring to build up.
We heartily congratulate them on the return to England of Mr. Arthur N. Birch. This gentleman, who was sent out from Downing Street with the limited experience that is to be gained by a few years’ service in a public office, has filled for the past three years the responsible position of colonial secretary for British Columbia, and during the absence of Governor Frederick Seymour he administered the government of that colony.
Since the proclamation of Union he has retained his position as colonial secretary of the united colony, although we are not aware of his having been officially recognized as such, or of his having signed his name with that distinctive title. It is certain, however, that during the whole administration of Governor Seymour he has been the presiding public servant, and that he is, in that capacity, responsible for the policy that has covered that administration with disgrace.
Placed in a position of high trust at a period when the affairs of these colonies were in so critical a state as to require the wisest treatment, it needed thoughtful judgment, careful vigilance, steady industry and the strictest impartiality to direct for good or for evil the tide that was then on the turn.
Instead of these qualities, we have found in Mr. Birch impetuous self-sufficiency, careless indifference, a continual hankering after amusements, and expressed partialities and antipathies on public matters that had not even the decency to assume disguise.
The critical condition of the country, its resources and requirements, seem to have been never comprehended by him, or he could not, consistently with duty, have suffered, without protest, the published statements that were forwarded to headquarters, in which the prosperity of British Columbia was insisted upon in such astounding terms, while its difficulties were passed over in silence.
Among these we may instance the discriminating Tariff of 1865, the Gold Export Tax, the extravagant outlay for direct steam communication with New Westminster, and the locality of the seat of government. The huge annual expenditure for official service was continually kept on the increase, until the direct necessity compelled reduction at the commencement of this year; before its close the utter state of insolvency to which the government must find itself reduced will compel further and serious reductions.
These financial contingencies might have been foreseen and protested against in time by Mr. Birch. It will probably be urged by him that the finances of the colony have been sacrificed to the Victoria merchants, by their stocks on hand entering the Fraser free of duty; but an investigation of the traffic returns and of the quantities of goods shipped from Victoria, coupled with the corresponding depreciation of the road tolls and of the internal revenue, will at once demolish this plausible but fallacious plea.
It is not surprising that the handful of people still left at New Westminster should have sumptuously entertained Mr. Birch with the customary ovations prior to his departure. Dilapidated and deserted as that embryo town is, Mr. Birch has been its untiring advocate, as he has been the unceasing opponent of Victoria.
This characteristic in a matter wherein he of all men should have been strictly neutral, is a fair example of the want of judgment and prudence that has proved so mischievous during his career in the country.
We believe Governor Seymour to be anxious to promote the advancement of the whole colony; but he must have dispassionate and capable advisers, and not an adviser — arbitrary, prejudiced and inexperienced — like Mr. A.N. Birch.
We trust the experience he has gained at our expense may be of use to him in his future career — in which we hope he may be as successful as he can declare; but at the same time we must say that he must seek a sphere containing “pastures new” for his peculiar talents.
We earnestly advise him for his own sake not to think of returning to this colony.
The Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle,
July 16, 1867
A footnote: Birch returned to British Columbia long after his retirement from the colonial service, and long after British Columbia had become a province in Canada.
By the time he returned — in 1907 and again in 1911 — he was known as Sir Arthur Nonus Birch KCMG, an honour given for his distinguished service as lieutenant-governor of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), colonial secretary for Ceylon and acting lieutenant-governor of Penang and Province Wellesley (now in Malaysia).
He died in London in October 1914. A few days later, the Daily Colonist praised him for his efforts to improve public accounts and abolish the gold export duty tax. “His administration gave great satisfaction,” the editors said, in sharp contrast to the opinions expressed 47 years earlier, when memories were fresh.
