FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 447, 19 February 1890, Page 3

FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

NEW ZEALAND’S ATTITUDE. NOT, TO HER INTERESTS TO JOIN. HON. CAPTAIN RUSSELL’S SPEECH. Melbourne, February 11. Sik Samuel Griffiths said there must be a complete Federal Government of Australia. Whetherornot that Federation would include New Zealand was matter for future discussion. The question at present was how far they could get the support ot their respective Parliaments and people. He did not think it indicated any disrespect to the Federal Council or to those comprising it to propose to give effect to what they proposed if there was a chance of doing so. There were many things they could do many obstacles, or what appeared to besuch —but the least Federation couldbring about was better than no Federation at all. Those who took part in creating the Federal Council had no reason to be ashamed of their labours. It was a step toward something better. He admitted federation without fiscal union was unsatisfactory, but did not think it was any obstacle. The absurdity of people fighting each other through Customs had become so apparent that the struggle must soon be given up. Hon. T. Playford (of South Australia) thought all would agree with the resolution now before the Conference. Everyone who had taken a prominent part in Australian political life admitted the time was rapidly advancing when Australia must, become united. The only difficulty was in determining when the time for union should come. The unfortunate part of Federal Government was that it had been taken up by the leading statesmen of the colonies instead of by the people. If the people had taken the question in hand the conclusion would have been arrived at long ago, but the wish for federation had nob Bprung from the people so far as South Australia was concerned. Its delegates met the Conference without the people of that colony having been educated up to the point when they were prepared to accept federation. Public men knew that the colonies would benefit by Federation, but many questions wanted settlement which could only be dealt with by a Federal Government. It was easily understood why American colonists joined together to assert their rights. It was the same with Canada. The question of defence decided Canada to confederate, but here there was no enemy at their doors likely to burn their cities . or.levy contributions. With what argument had the Premier of New South Wales .supplied the opponents of Federation when he pointed out the glorious progress made by those colonies under their present form of Government ? It would be said, why on earth do you want Federation if you can become the best governed and most prosperous people in the world without it ? They had not an enemy at their doors likely to burn their cities or levy contributions. They did not build up slowly and carefully public opinion in the colonies merely to appeal to catastrophes that might occur through war or surprises. They could not build up this opinion at a bound. Mr Deakin, of Victoria, remarked that one of the difficulties of one hon. member present was that there were no difficulties, and he had pointed out that there was here no great occasion to force circumstances, and no such events as took place in Canada and the United States compelling these countries to each form a union, almost whether they would or would not. The hon. member referred to was perfectly correct, but would he (the hon. member) venture to advance the position, and say that he could see nothing in the future possibilities of this continent, which might compel a union to be effected ? Would he not admit that so far from being unlikely it was practically a matter of certainty that they would be so affected by circumstances that they would be forced into a union ? Then how much better would it be to face the question in a time of quiet than be driven in a time of turmoil ? The hon. gentleman said he spoke for the colonies and their people, not with intent, but with certain implications that there was something which distinguished the Victorian from the South Australian and the New South Welshman from the Tasmanian and Queenslander. The truth was that they were one blood, had one sentimenc and one aspiration, and they rebelled against the line of Custom-houses along the borders. It must always be remembered that they had sprung from one stock, and they were one people that whatever barriers were made between them were barriers of their own creating, and what they were not strong enough to create they were strong enough to remove. Federal Government was in itself a sovereign State. There must be no antagonism between the Federal and local Governments—each must be supreme in its own sphere. There was an infinity of issues which a central Parliament would deal with, but which belonged to local legislatures, and every power must be left them which they could best exercise in the interests of the community. Although all great reforms did not spring from the people, success could come only from the people ; but he did not fear the result of the appeal to the people in these colonies on the work they were about to undertake.

At to-day's sitting of the Conference a considerable amount of time was taken up by a discussion of the business in committee.

The debate on Sir H. Parkes's motion was continued by Mr Clarke (of Tasmania), who said he felt sure that the people of Tasmania were quite willing to fall in with the Federation proposals. The attitude of South Australia could only be assumed from the sentiments of the representatives, but he trusted the people would be educated up to the necessities of Federation. Speaking of Tasmania, Mr Clarke said he knew the people there would be very -willing indeed to join with Queensland and Victoria. He felt that a uniform tariff must come some time. He would like to know why there should be any delay in adopting it, and whether there was any' necessity for it. They could not shut'their eyes to the colonies which had a protective policy in force, and viewing them as a free trader, he did not think the delay would persuade protectionists to give up the tariff, so that, as far as South Australia was concerned, it would be much better for her to come now than when a protective tariff was many years old. This was the first Conference devoted exclusively to the question of Federation, and he trusted that it would be the last, and that the delegates would go back to their several colonies to obtain the necessary consent for a convention to bring about a United Australasia. Sir.J. G. Lee Steere, Western Australia, thought the debate had hitherto been somewhat too full of sentiment. They wanted to deal with it practically. He hoped the representatives of New South Wales would be able to remove the impression abroad that people of that colony were not so favourable to Federation as they might be. Ho was sorry Sir Henry Parkes had brought forward an abstract motion instead of something definite. He saw very great difficulties in the way, notably the fiscal

question and the matter of finance. He did not see how it could be accomplished, and he said so, not that he was opposed to Federal Union, for no one would rejoice more to see Federation brought about. He quoted a number of figures to show the Customs duties in the different colonies would not provide the Federal Government with sufficient funds to meet interest on public debts of various colonies, and would like to know where the Federal Government would get the revenue from if the Australian Dominion were framed on the same lines as the Dominion of Canada. He should not entirely displace the Federal Council, but should strive to develop it, until it would meet the requirements of federation. What possibility was there of Western Australia entering the federation if it had to give away its Customs duty? Captainßussell(NewZealand)!said Federation was not only in the air, as some speakers said, but he believed it would not be long before it was an accomplished fact, and in a few years they would perhaps see United Australia a great power in these Southern seas. He did not see any great difficulty in the way. He believed, however, that the colony from which he came could not join in this federation. Although they would be happy to work in concord with the Australian Continent, they could not expect that for the next few years at any rate, New Zealand would merge its growing manhood into the mature manhood of Australia. To tell them New Zealand would do so, would be to tell them what he, events, did not believe. It would be to New Zealand’s disadvantage to join a Federal Government of this kind, of which they would form such an insignificant part. New Zealand had interests and responsibilities of other than an Australian character. There was a native administration, for instance ; they could not hand that over to the Federal Government, for such Government would be composed of gentlemen who knew little or nothing about the mode of dealing with the Maoris. There were kindred subjects which needed very careful treatment. New Zealand would be happy to join with Australia in any system of naval defence, but he confessed he did not see how she was to be benefited by a federal army. He did not doubt that the Australians would be quite willing to despatch an army to New Zealand if the occasion required it, but it was not likely to be of any service, for if they were subjected to a filibustering raid it would be all over before the army could reach them. A federal army would simply involve New Zealand in difficulties and in expense which she could ill afford to bear. There were, however, some things in which she might join. For instance, there were recriprocity in trade and the establishment of uniform matrimonial law. For himself he would say he would not participate in anything involving the colony in more protection, as he considered it to their advantage as a large exporting country to have their markets as free as possible. New Zealand would meet Australia in happiness and concord, but he could not say she could just at present join the Federal Union, although she might in time to come, when in a better position to do so. He had intended to move an amendment to Sir Henry Parkes’s motion, but if Sir Henry Parkes would alter the words, “Australasian colonies” to “Australian colonies ” he would content himself with moving a further resolution to the effect that any colony so desiring might subsequently be admitted to the confederation upon such terms and conditions as might be agreed upon. Dr. Cockb'urn, South Australia, advocated complete federation. He considered it would be an injudicious step to divide Australia into two sections at the outset, in order that two or three colonies comprised in one section might federate, leaving others *o separate. Although South Australia might lose perhaps a little at the outset by relinquishing her Customs duties, she would eventually gain as much as any colony by intercolonial free trade. He would like to know, as the debate had a free trade tendency, whether it was thought in any quarter that the accomplishment of federation would be accepted as a vindication of free trade. He did nob himself think it would be anything of the kind, but rather the vindication of protection, j with which he linked their general prosperity. The Federal Council had been ' doing a good work, and he hoped that whatever might come of the Conference or the subsequent Convention, Federation would arise from the work of the Council, : built he might say on its ruins. The Conference adjourned till to-morrow. London, February 10. , The “Economist” says British manufacturers have little to gain, and something to lose, by the establishment of an Australian Dominion.