JOIN AUSTRALIA?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1339, 17 January 1912, Page 6

JOIN AUSTRALIA?

FATUITY OF IT. PJGinj WOED BT SIR W. RUSSELL. ' (By Teleeranh.—Pres« AtHclattoa.l Hastings, January 16. Sir Win. Russell, who was ono of the representatives of Now Zealand at tho Australian Federation Conference at MelI)ourno in 1890, and also at thei National Australian Convention at Sydney in IS9I, and one of Commission in 1901. ■\thicli reported exhaustively against tho expediency of New Zealand entering tho Australian Commonwealth, waa interviewed by a representative of "The Hawke's Bay Tribune" to-day regarding Mr. Fisher's statement at Hobart that the Dominion was undoubtedly in favour of. federation. Sir Wm. Russell said: "I am astonished, at the statement, and cannot agree with Mr. Fisher's remarks. 1 returned to* tho Dominion only three weeks ago, so cannot presume to stato what the people of N'ew Zealand aro saying on' the subject at the present moment. Certainly no one whom 1 have talked to in Auckland or ■Hawke's Bay has led mo to suppose that a r'emarkablo change of. opinion has taken iplaco in tho Dominion, sinco I went to England- As a matter, of fact; I believe that the consensus of opinion would bo nioro strongly against joining the federation than it v;as formerly owing to the apparent tendency of a largo .section of Australians to desire tho unification of Australia instead of federation of tho •States. "At the conference at Melbourne I moved, as an addition to-a resolution affirming the desirableness of federation of tho Australian colonies, 'that, to tho union of Australian colonies, tho remoter Australasian colonies shall bo ontitled to admission at such times, and on such condition*,' _as; may. hereafter be agreed «pon. This was seconded by Sir John Hall and carried. Tli'o object of \ amendment was to !illow am- , colony thereafter to join tho Federation if cirEuinstances should have so cliangcd as to Inako it desirable-. I cannot recall any >xpres»ion of public opinion, either in Parliament or out of. it, which has been In favour ,of Now Zealand joining the federation.; To keep tdio door open, so ■ .that it might lie possible hereafter linger changed conditions, is tho utmost that has beeji desired. ••"The'possible danger of hostile attack might lead one at first sight to think.that n, scheme of Federal defence liiust be desirable. ,In ,myopinion it is. more apparent thin real. "Australia lias determined to liavo her own tieet, which, fo? mnay years can be strong mougli only for her own local defence, and so can be of no use to New Zealand, which ,has much more wisely decided, to contribute to the Imperial i\avy. But. in any case, there exists a very wido difference of opinion and policy 1 on most important questions, even supposing there was a scheme for Federal defence. /'So long as Britain remains supreme on tho sea, the-Dominion is safe from;any- ' thing worse than a''-remotely possible fiii: bustering attack, which, consequently on our universal service schcmo,. could do only, trifling injury. • "If Britain should lose command of the Kea, A ustralia, could not send troops to ' our aid across-1200. miles of ocean,' nor coil Id • she. spare them from -'her- own' wide ■ and-spars'ely-populated country." ■ MR. MASSEY'S OPINION. _ The suggestion of. .tho- Federal Prime : I Minister that .New Zealand should join tho Australian Federation'was referred to Mr. Vt'. F. Massey, M:l\, Leader of ,the:l{eform. party, for.-his ojiihion/on Satiiraay. : .M.r.\3lfctey .i.«ii'd'.the subject was far too important for him to express an. opinion on without diie and prop.?r consideration, and he ccr.tainly could not give any statement to go into print at a.moment's notice. "Probably," ho-added, "what has been suggested in Australia will be . discussed in the New Zealand Parliament later, on, and I shall hava an opportunity of expressing my. .opinion then."