FEDERAL COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 68, 4 April 1901, Page 3

FEDERAL COMMISSION.

FEB MESS ASSOCIATION. (Received 4, 1.16 a.m.) Melbourne, April 3. Premier Peacock gave evidence before the Federal Oomrnies'OH. It if understood he pointed out how mutually advantageous it would be for New Zealand to join. She would gaia from a trade defence point of view and the leavon of prcgressiveness which she would introduce would bo beneficial to the Commonwealth. Ho pointed out that New Zei'acd might lay down as a ■ condition fit pining that she should, on account of her geographical position, hnve thf light 1o legislate exclusively on some of the thir'v-ni»m mittens provided for in the Cammon<ieilth Act. He instanced ths old ago pensions, contiol c-f inland p-uts and telegraphs, and considered this possible. On the interpretation of section 121, he was asked how ho thought the Federal Parliament would he likely to allow New Zealand representatives to vote on matters which New as a State, had the exclusive right to legislato on, Mr Peacork replied that that could be arranged. He was also questioned respecting thb fir ancial system and the wisdom of the provision in section 96 for granting financial assistance to the States during the first ten years. Mr Peacock, it is understood, said that the psoplo of United Aus-' tralia would be intere-ted in the welfare j of all parts, and that ii; would be natural and proper they should give tempoiaay assistanco to a State in difficulties. Ho touched on defence, and eaid that r,s the* Commonwealth and New Zealand grew more and more prosperous it would be necessary to protect them adequately. The auxiliary squadron would have to be strengthened, and the Common wealth aud New ZeJand should have a (emmon scheme of defence. If New Zealand did noijoinbe expressed an opinion that there ought not to be much of a difficulty in arranging a trade reciprocity treaty. He pave a lot of information about the Factories Ac, its working, wages, ttc.