SHOULD WE JOIN? New Zealand and the Commonwealth.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 21, 24 November 1900, Page 6

SHOULD WE JOIN? New Zealand and the Commonwealth.

IT is amusing to observe the anxiety of the press of Australia to bring the Right Honourable Mr Seddon into line on the question of federation. Evidently, "on the other side, they don't like New Zealand standing out of the Commonwealth, and they appear to relish still less the prospect of us forming a South Pacific Federation of our own, with ,New..Zealand as the head and the governing centre. Some of the newspapers abuse Mr Seddon roundly, others satirize and ridicule him, while yet another section is endeavouring to wheedle and cajole him with soft words and softer promises. * * • To these latter belongs the Sydney Daily Telegraph. There is some humour in this situation, because the Telegraph itself is a recent convert to Australian Federation, having opposed the proposal with more vehemence and bitterness than good sense. Its anxiety now to draw New Zealand into a federation which it so strongly opposed up till a year ago would be suggestive of the man in the creek who was anxious for his friends to " jump in and feel how nice it is " were it not for the knowledge that federation is a most excellent thing for Australia. But it does not by any means follow that it is an equally good thing for New Zealand. * • • The Telegraph was in a very wheedling mood the other day when it threw out the hint that in the event of our joining it would perhaps be possible to add some Pacific Islands to the federated States, and to give New Zealand free trade with Australia and the Islands. " Obviously," adds the Telegraph, " it cannot have these advantages while it, stands aloof." But, if not, why not ? There is no reason in the world why reciprocal free trade should not be arranged between Australia and New Zealand. And, even if a duty is imposed upon our products, it is the Australians themselves who will pay it. They take our produce, not ' because they love us,' but because they cannot do without it, and, tariff or no tariff, they must continue to take it to supply their own needs just the same. » • • On the other hand, precisely on the same principle, we take their coals, their fruit, their hardwood timber, and many other things, and we might very easily furnish a magnificent market for their light wines. Thus, it is obvious that Australia has very much to gain and very little to lose by reciprocal free trade with New Zealand. At the same time, if she persists in imposing an aggressive tariff, we are by no means confined for our markets to Australia. We can go further afield at no very great disadvantage to ourselves. And, as for the Islands that might possibly be annexed to the State, there is no question whatever that they will be annexed to New Zealand by-and-bye. v» * * New Zealand cannot join the Australian Commonwealth without paying a heavy price for the privilege, in comparison with which the benefit from free trade with Australia would be a paltry circumstance. We are blessed with the advantages of Home Rule, the ungratified desire for which has been the cause of untold misery in IreJand, and we would be literally bartering our birthright for a mess of pottage if we gave it up in exchange for the present advantage of free trade with Australia without regard to the potentialities of the future. So certain as our politicians gave over the control of this country to a State 1200 miles distant to-day, so certain would posterity curse our folly generations hence, while shedding their life blood

on the battlefield in the endeavour to regain the freedom we had thoughtlessly traded away. • • • Mr Seddon can afford to despise the jibes and sneers of the Australian newspapers, and turn a deaf ear to their cajoleries. He is the present guardian of the destiny of New Zealand, and that destiny is to found a young nation in these southern seas, under whosje sheltering.carethe islands of the South Pacific may find guidance and protection. It is our destiny to make and administer our own laws without regard to the different conditions of life and labour that prevail in the State of Australia, 1200 miles distant, and to establish and foster a national life out of which shall spring the commerce, manufactures, arts and sciences, which, with a broad and tolerant religion, make for the prosperity of a country and the happiness and welfare of its people. Let us hope that this is Mr Seddon's ideal of New Zealand's destiny, and that he will stand firm to it.