The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1884. Mr Whitaker on Annexation and Federation.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1047, 11 January 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1884. Mr Whitaker on Annexation and Federation.

It would perhaps be saying too much to aver that the address of the Hon F. Whitaker upon Annexation and Federation was looked forward to with great interest, for the simple reason that most people in New Zealand care little about the question. But at the same time some curiosity was aroused as to what really took place at the recent Congress in Sydney, on account of the resolution come to that the representatives of the Fourth Estate should be excluded from the meeting. What news we got was of a scrappy kind, and the resolutions arrived at did not strike one as being very practical. We did learn, however, that the delegates from this colony had distinguished themselves as among the most ardent supporters both of Annexation and Federation, and on the occasion of the Melbourne banquet Major Atkinson delivered himself of an eloquent and enthusiastic speech. Beating in mind that during last session what is supposed in some quarters to be a burning question was treated by the Government with indifference, it not contempt, as being, so far as New Zealand was concerned, quite beyond the region of practical politics, this sudden conversion was rather puzzling. Nor can it be said that the address of the exPremier at Auckland showed any good and sufficient reason for this new-born enthusiasm, and he told his audience little more of the subject than they knew before. A charming unanimity seems to have prevailed throughout the meetings of the Conference, but when we ask what has been the outcome of the deliberations, the answer must be, virtually nothing. Even the recommendations which were resolved upon will have little weight, and we feel sure that, were they placed before the New Zealand Parliament they would be rejected by a very large majority. That this is the opinion of the Premier is apparent from the fact that he himself has not come forward to explain how his views underwent such a change in a miraculously short space of time. It has been freely stated that Mr Whitaker’s address was nothing more nor less than an experiment to learn exactly what was public opinion as to Annexation and Federation, so as to guide the Governmeet in their future actions. This appears on the face of it not far from the truth, and throughout the idea of making these matters a party question has been continually and urgently deprecated. Considering the important issues at stake, and also that should New Zealand take a part in any annexation scheme she will have to contribute her share towards the expense, it is difficult to see how this position is tenable. However pleasant it may be for a party of gentlemen to meet together and discuss political theories after the manner of a debating club, it is certainly not right for a Parliament to waste its time in this way. If Major Atkinson is really in earnest, let him have the courage of his convictions, and bring down to the House definite proposals and be prepared to stand or fall by them. As it is the time of Parliament is far too much at the mercy of members who wish to air their eloquence upon particular fads, and to place the question of Annexation and Federation upon the same platform as the Premier’s pet project of National Insurance will only serve to intensify the evil. We freely admit that many of the advantages enumerated by Mr Whitaker would accrue to us from the annexing of certain islands in the Pacific, but at the same time they are not necessary to our existence, and just at present we are in no position to indulge in such expensive luxuries. The breeches-pocket argument is after all the strongest, especially in a heavily taxed community like ours, and we firmly believe that if New Zealand was polled not one per cent, of the people would be in favor of our incurring an expense for what would be, when all is said and done, a doubtful advantage. Whether the idea that the Conference was simply a meeting of private gentlemen on a holiday excursion is, as Mr Whitaker averred, a fallacy, we will not stop to enquire, but perhaps the Premier might have been better occupied had he remained at home and given his time to solving the problem of how to make both ends meet —a matter of no little difficulty just now, and of certainly greater interest to the majority of colonists than theoretical discussions on Federation.