FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 447, 19 February 1890, Page 4

FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

PARKES IN REPLY. HIS MOTION CARRIED. DEAKIN’S MOTION WITHDRAWN,

Melbourne, Feb. 14. I The following report of the further pro- ( eeedinga at the Federation Conference , yesterday is cabled from Melbourne Sir Henry Parkes, in reply, said the debate ( had taken a wider range than he anticipated, but he could not admit the resolution was either bald or abstract. They were not there to discuss the details, but simply to anirm a broad principle. Perhaps lie ought not to be surprised that the debate had gone further than he expected, but lie j had reason to be surprised that he should j have been treated with rudeness. Ho j could not conceive anything more offensive than to be told to one’s face, as delegates from New South Wales had been told, that though proposing this thing they were not sincere. That was the deepest offence that could be given him, and it had been offered by a delegate from Adelaide, by the Hon. T. Playford. Why the latter should desire to pick a quarrel with him he did nob know, for he had done nothing to court it. The Hon. T. Playford had even had the presumption to lecture him on his loyalty, and detailed his action in connection with the inception of the Federal council when the movement first began in 1883. The Convention from which the Federal Council sprang did not favour Federation, but was in favour of annexation of New Guinea by Queensland. The question of Federation came up when lie, in the House, took the earliest opportunity of stating to the world at large the Council would never succeed. He explained the Chinese Bill introduced in the New South Wales Parliament. Though not exactly on the lines of the Bill approved by the Conference, it was equally efiective, and he failed to see what objection any delegate could take on this matter. The Western Australian representative had spoken somewhat insultingly of the whole Conference, as to proceedings being too sentimental and not sufficiently practical. It had also been suggested that he intended to copy the Canadian Dominion. He never expressed such an intention, but only mentioned it in a letter to Mr Gillies. He had further explained exactly what he thought would be required, and said we should resort to all the stores of learning open to us. That was sufficiently explicit. He was perfectly satisfied with the conduct of Queensland, which was straightforward, intelligible, and in a manner generous. Anyone who desired to maintain the separation of these colonies should in the light of the early history of America be regarded as an enemy. He would try and state the main objects of a Central Australian Government. The two most important, from a practical point of view, related to Asiatic races and the islands of the Pacific. Who knew what would occur in China in the next 10 years what new forms of Socialism might split up that empire, and the effect on Australia, which I was so near and presented so much attraction to such people '! He had no antipathy to Chinese on the ground of chaiacter as ' residents, bub he believed it was his duty to preserve these lands for the British ; type of people. Referring to the Pacific, ' he believed it there had been a central Government to speak with one voice, New Guinea would now belong to Australia. Australia should certainly be queen of these Southern seas. Coming to the question of national credit, he thought the credit of Australia under Federation would be second to none but England. Australia would be able to influence the L destinies of civilised men in all parts of the - world. She would be a nation among , nations. They should have within their j shores everything any nation could com--1 prise. It was highly improbable he would ? live to see the consummation of his hopes, 5 bub he trusted he had sufficient foresight to 3 forecast her career. He prayed God that { Australia might always live under the British . flag; she could have no better destiny, His 7 whole being trembled with prayer that in the time to come all parts of the Empire . might mass together for ever and ever, and that they might form part of one beneficent Empire such as the world had never yet seen. He could see no obstacle to prevent the Australian States, Canada, and South Africa uniting with the mother coun--5 try to form an empire carrying the English 1 language, literature, arts, and sciences to all ] parts of the earth. It might be otherwise. 3 It might be, as many reputable and respect--5> able citizens desired, that we should form a ? nation by ourselves. He trusted the Con- _ ference would lead to a better understand--7 ing. He regretted he had been a disturbing influence. Whatever quarrels had taken place between the colonies, New South Wales had never been the aggressor. She was not the author of barbarous taxes on food supplies, Retaliation had always ■ been an abomination to him. He confib dpnbly looked forward bo Federation within i the next decade, if not sooner. ( Mr Gillies (Victoria) followed, after ' which Sir Henry Parkes’s resolution was * passed. # > Mr Deakin withdrew the motion of which he had given notice. b The Conference will finish its sittings to- : morrow. > Wellington, Thursday. : Captain Russeli wires from Melbourne ’ that he and Sir John Hall will probably I leave for Now Zealand on Monday.