The Federation Vote.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2109, 2 June 1898, Page 2

The Federation Vote.

——; - To-morrow the popular vote on the Commonwealth Bill, adopted by tho recent Federal Convention, will bo \ taken in New South Wales, Victoria, and. Tasmania It has long been a matter for surprise with us that,soli ttle attention has been given in New Zealand to this question, which ha» been engrossing that, of all the other colonies for many months now. Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania will vote solidly for Federation Under the Bill. They are the Protectionist Provinces which will benefit by intercolonial freetrade and a high tariff ast against the world; New South Wales, which has been prospering greatly under Free Trade with the world, ispretty equally divided in opinion as the adoption of the Bill, would involve a heavy custom tariff and also increase the taxation of that colony beyond the - amount required for its. own needs. That objection, however, is met by the fact that all the surplus revenue will come back to the colony where it is raised. The view pressed upon the attention of the New South Wales , electors by the advocates of Federation is that the end to be attained is worthy of greater sacrifies than the new constitution demands.