NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION COMMISSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 23 April 1901, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION COMMISSION.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPJfEIGHT|

(PBR PRESS ASSOCIATION).

Melbourne, April 20.

The Age says the information obtained by tho New Zealand Federation Commissioners, though interesting, is hardly likely to havo any appreciable influence on public opinion in that State. After referring to tho hostile attitude of the majority of New Zealanders and tho possibility of this hosli hy in time being modifier!, it says there are really only two points -which have a mutual interest, these aio commercial and defence. The aspects; of the fovmer has been shown from tho New Zealand standpoint, and does not offer any sufficient inducement to favourably influence federation, whilst the latter is one recognised as likely to cause friction. New Zealand, seperated from Australia by a wido ocean stretch, can hardly hi included in any scheme of naval coast defence which will give general satisfaction. It would be far better to leave the matter, as far as naval dispositions are concerned, in the hands of the Impt rial authorities. If this view is taken the defence question disappears as well as tho commercial one, and sentiment only is left. The fear is that this is not sufficiently strong to bind the two countries together. It this was forced tho possibility to be faced is that the Australian Federal Stateß would be saddling themselves with an Ireland, who-o grievances would play a future part, possibly quite distracting our political life as the Irish question has the Imperial Parliament. Such a contingency is certainly not to be sought after or viewed with equanimity and ready as the Australian States would be to welcome New Zealand in tho Confederacy, the partnership is only to bo thought of if effected on such terms as will ensure amity in their relations from first to last.