PREMIER OF NEW ZEALAND INTERVIEWED AT HOBART. HIS OPINIONS ON FEDERATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 428, 14 December 1889, Page 4

PREMIER OF NEW ZEALAND INTERVIEWED AT HOB ART. HIS OPINIONS ON FEDERATION.

A ll Murcuky "' reporter interviewed Sir Harry Atkinson, the Premier of New Zealand, who is now at Uobart for his health, on the question of federation. Sir Harry Atkinson said that he did nob think New Zealand was likely to join the Federal Council at present. He considers her interests would be sacrificed, and he has not altered his views since he attended the last conference, but tho question was not so ripe as he then supposed. He has no doubt that New Zealand will have to join in the course of time ; but she would not damage her own interests by holding aloof for a time. Personally he would like to see her join, but the thing could not be hurried. New Zealand had gone through it all in, regard to her provinces, and smaller divisions must eventually give way. Any measures for the general convenience would be readily adopted by the New Zealand Legislature, such as the Intercolonial Judgment Act. The people, he said, do not care about federation, and wh«n they do will join. He feels certain that New Zealand will join the proposed conference at Hobarfc, being anxious to hear what may be said, and would no doubt send more than one representative. For his part, he looked on Sir Henry Parkes' proposals as the best yet made, a» they wanted a discussion of these things. He did not think General Edwards' defence proposals suitable, as British troops would be required in the event of an Imperial war, and colonial troops would not act wich them, as witness the JEast India Company's troops and the Imperial forces. Ho would have an army on the Aame linos as the navy, under one control. Ifc was the place of the Imperial G^ej-juflept to l#&d W such matters', and j

ifc did nob recognise that if Australia takes the initiative it will be one that the British Government will not like. The people of New Zealand' do not take much notice of Sir Henry Parkes' change of front, and the majority favour remaining as at present. He thinks there will not be much difficulty about Customs federation, and, with regard to the fiscal feature of the question, believes that the majority of the New Zealanders favour, and, undoubtedly, will be benefited by it. The confirmed protectionists would oppose it. He does not think the time has arrived for supreme legislation on Imperial federation ; and the first move in the direction of federation should be Homo Rule, as in Ireland, after which, in his opinion, Imperial federation would not be long delayed.