AUSTRALASIAN FEDERATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 29, 17 January 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALASIAN FEDERATION.

SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL’S VIEWS OX 'J’HE QUESTION.

WISE WORDS ON DEFENCE

(Per Press Association.)

Hastings, January 1(3. Captain Sir William R. Russell, who was one of the representatives of Now Zealand at the Australian Federation Conference at Melbourne in 1800, and also at the National Australian Convention at Sydney, .1891, and one of a Royal Commission in 1001, which reported exhaustively against the expediency of Now Zealand entering the Australian Commonwealth, was interviewed by the Hawke’s hay Tribune to-day, regarding Mr Fisher’s statement at Hobart that the Dominion was undoubtedly in favour of federation.

Sir William Russell said: “I am astonished at the statement, and cannot agree with Mr Fisher’s remarks. I returned to the Dominion only three weeks ago, so I cannot presume to state what the people of New Zealand are saying on tiie subject at the present moment. Certainly no one I talked to in Auckland or Hawke’s Bay has led me to suppose that a remarkable change of opinion has taken place in the Dominion since I went to England. As a matter of fact, I believe the consensus of opinion would be more strongly against joining a federation than it was formerly, owing to the apparent tendency of a large section of (Australians to desire the unification of Australia, instead of the federation of the States. At the conference at Melbourne, I moved; as an addition to the resolution affirming the desirableness of the federation of the Australian colonies, ‘that to the union of the Australian colonies the remoter Australasian colonies shall be entitled to admission at such times and on such conditions as may hereafter be agreed upon.’ This was seconded by Sir John Hall and carried. The object was to allow any colony hereafter to join the federation if the circumstances should have so changed as to make it desirable. I cannot recall any expression of public opinion, either in Parliament or out, which has been in favour of New Zealand joining the federation. To keep the door open so that it might he possible hereafter under changed conditions is the utmost that has been desired. The possible danger of a hostile attack might lead one at first sight to think that a scheme of federal defence must lie desirable. In my opinion it is more apparent than real. Australia has determined to have her own fleet, which for many years can be strong enough, only for her own local defence, and so can bo of no use to Now Zealand, which has much more wisely decided to contribute to the Imperial Navy. But, in any case, there exists a very wide difference of opinion and policy in most important questions, oven supposing a scheme of federal defence was inaugurated. So long as. Great Britain is safe from anything worse than a remotely possible filibustering • attack, Which, consequently on our universal service scheme, could do only trifling' injury'-'' If Great Britain should lose command of tho saa, Australia could not send troops to|our aid across 1200. miles of ocean, not could she spare? them from her own wide and sparsely populated country.”