The Federal Commission.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 87, 22 April 1901, Page 3

The Federal Commission.

AUSTRALIAN COMMENTS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Alelbourne, April 20. The Age says that the information obtained by the New Zealand Federal Commission, though interesting, is hardly likely to have any appreciable influence on public opinion in that State. After referring to the hostile attitude of the majority of New Zealanders, and to that hostility possibly in time being modified, the paper says that there are really only two points which have mutual interest. These are commercial and defence aspects. The former has been shown from a New Zealand stand that it does not offer a sufficient inducement to favorably influence federation, whilst the latter is, as everyone recognises, likely to cause friction. New Zealand is separated from Australia by a wide ocean stretch, and can hardly be included in any scheme of naval coast defence which would give general satisfaction. It would be far better to leave the matter as far as the naval disposition was concerned in the hands of the Imperial authorities. If this view were taken the defence question disappears, as well as the commercial, and one of sentiment only is left. The fear is expressed that this is not sufficiently strong to bind the two countries together. If this were forced, the position to be faced is that the Australian Federal States would bo saddling themselves with an Ireland whose grievances would play a future part, possibly quite as distracting to our political life as the Irish question has been to the Imperial Parliament. Such a contingency would certainly not be sought after or received with equanimity. A treaty as to whether the Australian States would welcome New Zealand confederacy partnership was only to bo thought of if effected on such terms as to ensure amity in the relations from first to last.