FEDERATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 38, 23 February 1884, Page 4

FEDERATION.

IT is stated, and we think the statemeni more than probable, that the (Jo\ eminent will not stake their scats on the question of Federation. Ko one -who ha-, matched Major Atkinson"* political caieer believed that he would risk his enjoyment of otiice on any question he could treat as non-Mini-teiial : he is usually tolerably sure of a majoiity before he wilfully provokes a trial ot .strength. On Federation ho i> by no means sine of anything but defeat, and, theiefore, harmonious as was the meeting in Sydney, full and unequivocal a> was the assent of the Kew Zealand delegate-, to the resolutions of the Conference, sanguine though the predictions were ot future greatness "of the colonies under a Federal Hag. at the .subsequent hob-nobbing* of the delegates, these sentiment-, will not cause the Premier to nsk his seat even on so great a question of policy as Federation. This piactice of wobbling about and watch' ing tor the breath of public opinion is humiliating and demoralising. The people expect the head of their political institution-, to lead. Instead ot doing that, however, Ministers look to their opponents and to the surface indications of popular currents to show them the way. When will I'ailiament put an end to this miserable timeserving—this shameless clinging to place and pay "' Major Atkinson attended the Intercolonial Conference a- the representative of Kew Zealand : he took an active part in its proceeding-, ; and if any man should have foimecl cleai views of the wisdom of throwing the fortunes ot this colony in with an Australian tederation, he is pie-eminently that man. The decision to be made i^ a momentou*one—no gi eater has ever come before the Legislatuie of New Zealand, and yet the neople are told that the Atkinson Cabinet, - the Government of this colony, willha\e o definite \iews with regaid to it, The thing is preposterous, and if Parliament lias any respect tor its own dignity, it will insist upon the full responsibility of the action of the New Zealand delegates being borne by the Cabinet which appointed them. What would be thought of an Lnglish Ministry which laid down the doctrine that the foreign policy of the Cabinet was not a matter on which Mini&teis should ha\e any clearly-detined Aiews, or should be expected to lead the House? Moic Cabinets have been sacrificed on the foreign policy than for failure in any other department of the public administiation. Well authenticated as the rumour appeals to be, theiefoie, we btill hesitate to believe that the Premier will stoop to a coiu-e "-o shameless and pusillanimous as en appearance beioie Parliament without a pronounced policy on the subject of Federation, which lie will bo fully prepared, if necessary, to appeal to the country upon.