FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

Te Aroha News, 15 February 1890, Page 5

FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

THE CLOSED SESSION. NEW ZEALAND’S POSITION. RIGHT TO COME IN AT A FUTURE TIME. THE PROPOSED CONVENTION.

' Melbourne, February 12. It is understood that the portion of the sitting of the Conference conducted with closed doors yesterday was devoted to the consideration of the position of New Zealand in relation to the other colonies. The New Zealand representatives, whilst unwilling to commit their colony to the scheme of federation, urged that the colony should be represented at the Convention, and that the basis of federation should be such as to mit New Zealand and Fiji entering at some future time, should they @ftd it desirable to (hr so.,

!Vl ; r Deaki#. gave notice of the following resolutions; (i) That the members of the Conference take such Steps as ar© necessary to induce the legislators of the respective colonies to appoint delegates to a National Convention, empowered to consider and

report on an adequate scheme for a Federal Constitution; (2) That theConventionshould consist ot seven members from each of the self-governing colonies, and four members from each of the Crown colonies. The third clause refers to the bolstering up of the Federal Council in the interim, and is similar to Mr Deakin’s previous notice.

SYDNEY “MORNING HERALD” ON THE POSITION.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S ATTITUDE CRITICISED. Sydney, this day. The Sydney “ Morning Herald ” says that the attitude which New Zealand assumes is easily understood. The Hon. Captain Russell, in a sympathetic speech, in which the advantages of Federation were recognised, pointed out that New Zealand had questions of her own, which obliged her to adopt a waiting policy, but while she felt it advisable to stand out for the present, she would be glad to have the door open for her entrance at some future time, The hesitation on the part of. New Zealand is readily understood, and il she stands alone for the present, no exception can be taken to her action, but with South Australia the position is somewhat different. A selfish motive underlies the objection of South Australia, which places local interests before those of Australian concern. Under these circumstances she has no stomach for the wide proposals of Sir Henry Parkes. The attitude of South Australia and Western Australia, and the refusal of New Zealand, had brought the deliberations to something of a point when the question is whether it is advisable to take steps without waiting for the co-operation of all the colonies.