Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1901. THE FEDERAL COMMISSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 January 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1901. THE FEDERAL COMMISSION.

The Federal Commission if an exhaustive and reliable report was to be obtained, should have been composed of the ablest men in the country. That such men were not selected - and they were not, for the commission consists of men of minds of a yery mediocre kind—is matter for much regret. The question is the uppermost one in the colonial mind of to-day, afj 1 great interest would have been felt in the enquiries and report of the commission, had that commission been composed of-able men. As it is, the feeling already abroad is that the report cannot be accepted as worth a great deal, while the anti-federal composition of the commission inclines all to the belief that the result will be dead against joining with Australia, or at least a negative opinion. With judicial and capable minds the report would be based upon facts and arguments brought to light, but with less capable minds bias and pre-conceived notions are difficult to overcome. At the initial stage of the proceedings, the commission, in our opinion has made a serious mistake. A telegram to-day states that the first sitting of the Federal Commission was held in the Parliamentary Buildings yesterday. After a general discussion it was decided to commence proceedings with a sitting at Invercargill on the sth prox, and to gradually work up through the colony until arrival at Auckland, proceeding thence to Australia. The press will not be admitted to the sittings of the Commission, but formal records of the proceedings from day to day are to bo furnished. In the interval between now and the next meeting a quantity of necessary ( statistics will bo obtained from the Government and placed at the disposal , of members. The Press not admitted i

to the sittings! Truh these “ Liberals of the New .Zealanc ” are intensely afraid of lotting the \ ioplo knew what they are doing. V e should have thought that the pi blication of the facts and evidence day by day was just what was required, in order that the people might read and judge for themselves. This is what liberal-minded men would have done, but those pseudo-liberals hold a different view. They and they alone must sift the evidence and think out the problem for the whole of the people of New Zealand ! Ye Gods ! fancy the intelligence of this colony abrogating itself to the intellect of the commissioners ! It does seem passing strange that the New Zealand Liberals should so dread thepress. Independent, intcllectualand able men rather courtpublicity and criticism, knowing well that they ana able to withstand same or desire to be shown -where they err, but too many of the so called Liberals of this colony fear daylight. They possess that peculiar cunning of the mediocre mind that just enables them to realise the peril they run in submitting their crude notions to impartial criticism. Having but a very superficial knowledge cf their subject they know that in a controvery with the public or press they must come off second best, and hence the cry so often of late heard in this colony “ Exclused the Press.” Seeing the composition of the commission, and the determinate exclude the press, and thus prevent the public from reading and weighing the evidence. We look upon the enquiry as a hugh farce that will cost the colony much without giving any adequate return.