AUSTRALIAN FEDDRATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 473, 21 May 1890, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN FEDDRATION.

Sydney, May 15^ The Federation debate was resumed in the Legislative Assembly last night. Mr Dibbs, the leader of the Opposition, said that if they were to depart from the present state cf the constitution they would have to be under a flag of their own as the United States of Australasia. Clearly, he said, the federation movement was only started to cover the retreat of the Ministry on their fiscal policy. He scouted the idea of federation on the lines of the Dominion of Canada. 'The latter had been compelled to federate under the Crown because of the extraordinary position of her boundary with regard to America, and the necessity that she should ally herself with some great maritime power like England to secure herself protection from outside influence. The Premier’s federation scheme would produce as much chaos in Australia as took place in America. The attempt to scare Australia by a letter like that sent by General Edwards, the object of which was to intimidate the colony to fear the power of China, was unworthy of a British officer. If the time ever did come it would find Australia prepared to defend against China or anyone else, but in the meantime it was better to let v\ell alone, let them remain dependent to England, and in doing so be a free, independent people as weil.