FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

Te Aroha News, 15 February 1890, Page 4

FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

SIR HENRV PARKES’S SPEECH.

Melbourne, February 10. The Federation Conference met at elev

o-day, all the delegates cinsr present. Sir H. Parkes moved the resolution of which he had givon notice, and expressed r Jgret that his absence through illness had prevented his moving it before. _ He began by referring to a Se'ect Committee whicii eat in Victoria thirty-three years ago, which he said gave the first impetus towards A us ‘ tralian Federation. If the colonies had

acted on their report at the time it was made, something more than mere rivalry would have been avoided. The whole question of Federation was then discussed, and it was thought by the committee that it was not too soon to take action in the matter. All he could say now •was said by the committee of the Victorian

Assembly within one year after the introduction ol responsible government. If any- i one would take the trouble to examine the records of the different colonies, they would find without any excessive exercise of imagination that in the very first yeai of their freedom the thoughts of their very ablest men were turned to the question of federation. Coming to the convention of .1833, he was much struck with the views of Mr Service, who then had in contemplation, as we had now, the establishment of a Federal Parliament, Thirty-three years ago legislative union was spoken of, and Mr Service, beyond all doubt, entertained exactly the same idea with regard to the Federal Council. According to the best information the population of Australasia was now 3,842,800 souls, of whom 2,656,000 were in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. As showing what population had done, the value of industrial_ products of a single year from local industries was no less than £92,042,000. If they took the private wealth of the people, not including public wealth in railways or lands, but merely that owned by free citizens, they would find they would compare favourably with great European nations. For instance, he would compare them with five great nations. In Austria the amount per head was £l6 16s ; in Germany, £ls 14s; in France, £25 14s ; in the United Kingdom, £35 4s; in the United States, £39; whilst in Australasia wealth of nation averaged £45 per head. In reality they stood at the head of the world in tho distribution of wealth. Their unitedarniynumbered3l,29l men, and this army was constituted with due regard to military service, as they had it distributed among the principal sections. Systemß of education had been brought into existence embracing children of all families ; under their forms of government education was carried to the extent to which, if it had not done so much, would be a marvel to themselves. If they were fitted in 1857 to enter into federation, how much more so were they now ? If not now, when would they be ? They had grown in population and wealth, as he had proved, and had wonderfully shown capacity for self-government. He would try and prove now much better the people would be with federation. Numberless sources of wealth would be developed by one powerful Government which were not likely to be touched by any provincial Government ab present. Notably, there were the fisheries, of which no one now knew the extent. Under one management they would bo developed to an extent not likely in any other way. Then there was the lighting and survey of the coast, which would bo better accomplished, and the means of communication would be greatly advanced under a uniform power of central government. There were many other things to bo considered. They could not hope to be free from molestation from outside. He prayed Australia would for ever remain at peace. But, much as they might desire it, tiiey knew that when nations were at war there was only one law —that of force.

Mr Deakin briefly seconded the motion. Sir S. Griffith (Queensland) said there could be no difference- of opinion as to the desirability of Federation. He did not feel alarmed at Mr Service’s bogey—the lion in the path. No doubt there were obstacles, but he did not think they were insuperable. If they could not get all they wanted they should take what they could get. The tariff should not be allowed to stand in the way. They should have JTederal Government. Even though with limited power, still lec them have it. Sir T. Playford (South Australia) was not satisfied with ordinary or common Federation. What was more desired was that New South Wales and Victoria should answer one or two questions before they made up their minds to join hands. They wanted to know why Sir Henry Parkes did not introduce a certain Chinese Restriction Bill which he promised to bring in, and which all the other colonies had passed ? After this omission he had just a suspicion of sincerity in Sir lienry Parkes s proposals. He also desired to know why Victoria, which was the first to build up a Customs barrier between the colonies, ghould now be so elastic in her desire to remove it ?

Sir H. Parkes undertook to relieve Sir T. Playford’s mind regarding the Chinese Bill.

Sir T. Playford desired it to be distinctly understood that the Canadian form of Federation would not suit South Australia. Moreover, the latter was perfectly loyal to the mother county, and would fight for her at any time at short notice. In conclusion he said :—“We want Federation, but we want to know of what sort.” Mr Deakin bantered Sir T. Playford, and hinted that South Australia has shown Victoria the sincerest form of flattery, by imitating her action in geoting up Customhouse barriers. He pointed out that Victoria, being a separate State, had only herself to consider in the past, and in eonseqnence had done what she believed to be best for herself, as all the other colonies did. There could be no doubt as to the advisability of Federation. He knew there was a desire for it in Victoria, and what was more, be knew the people of Victoria were prepared to make sacrifices to obtain it. He thought the common thread of kinship would prove something more than a thread —it would bind them closer than bonds of steel. Mr Deakin dealt at considerable length with the advantages of Federation, and during the course of an eloquent •speech declared himself thoroughly in accord with the mover of the resolution. The Conference then adjourned till next morning. All the delegates to the Conference., /except the represen fatiues of South Australia, are suffering more or less from the effects of the climate. An effort .will jb© made to J > finish on Friday or Saturday. THE PROPOSED FEDERATION. DETAILS OF THE SCHEME. ■ ; SIR HENRY PARKES EXPLAINS; , . .i. Melbourne, February 11. In tbe„course of bis speech at the Conference yesterday, Sir Henry Parkes, who

spoke for an hour and a quarter, explained the details of his proposed Australasian Confederation. He said what was required, it seemed to him, was a central Government to iramo laws by which the whole group should be governed, with an executive body with full power to administer such laws under a carefully - framed Constitution. The example of America should be a warning that the States had under the act of Federation attempted to work without a proper constitution, but had latterly failed. Nothing short of a complete constitution would serve the purpose he had in view in Australia, and ho would repeat that America had failed altogether in trying to live as merely confederate States. These States grew incapable of government, until at length, as was predicted by Washington, they would fall victims to the first foreign enemy that made war upon them. It was not until this was shown to be the case that they combined to form a Government under which they could live in happiness, peace, and security. It was a struggle for the sovereign power in the States which brought this about. The complete nature of that union could be seen in the circumstance that man was

free to walk through any part of the States as he was in the streets of New York or Boston. That country had, it was true, imposed taxes—in some cases severe taxes—upon the commodities of the outside world, but between any two places within its own territory there was not a single Custom house from one end of the country to the other. Trade was as free as air. He was one of those who believed that so far as as his judgment went and he had some experience—it would be simply playing at legislation if they attempted to create a Federal Government without the power which properly belonged to such a Government. He was as anxious as anyone could be to preserve the rights and privileges of the great colony of New South Wales. Indeed he would be ashamed to go back to the colony, which had always treated him with such kind- | ness, if he felt that he had not taken every precaution to guard her interests ; but the Federal Government must be a Government fully armed with plenary power in matters of defence, the tariff and all cognate subjects; in respect to all functions of a national character the Government must have power to build ships and enlist soldiers, and in many other ways exercise powers of supreme Government. It might be wise that this national Government should be accompanied bya State or Provincial legislature, but it should be decided from the very first that a complete Government, fitted to perform the highest functions of nations, should be formed. He did not know the feelings of the Conference. Ho had not been in communication with any of the members, at he desired to attend with a mind untrammelled even in thought, and to meet the representatives of other colonies on fair open ground, with the one great object of resolving themselves into a nation regulating and defining the rights of their several colonies. It was their bounden duty to see to this, for no Federal Government could exist with satisfaction, and with a power sufficient for its high purpose,unless it held in harmony with what was justly due to the several colonies. He asked members to 'bear in mind that they were there as representatives of the whole people of Australia, and asked them o remember that there was growing up in these colonies a native element, and in that new wave of life which would shortly overwhelm them they might expect to see rising up a generation better, perhaps, than they and

Miser than they. The union of the Ausbialian colonies was a thing that so commended itself to the most far seeing of those who had come from other lands and which had so intertwined itself with a life native born that nothing would possibly stay the progress of that federation. He trusted they had not entered upon the consideration of the question too soon, and also trusted they would not make a mistake. He did not see how it was possible to shut their eyes to the fact that their one duty, at all events, was to ask the Parliaments of the different colonies to consider whether or not the time had come. He submitted the resolution at a time when ho was bound’to confess that he had not the strength to treat it in a way he would wish to treat it.