AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 12 April 1907, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

INTERESTING SPEECHES IX LONDON. London. April l!l. Dr Itackett, of Westralia, read a paper before the Colonial Institute on Some of the federal tendencies! of Australia. He pointed out that federation had not secured a preponderance of sympathy and that popular approval once expected, while many who were once. sanguine had begun * to consider federation a mistake and an experiment that was premature, the result of which—financial, political, and federalwere more than doubtful. "Yet, de spite dissatisfaction, one can hardly doubt that there is a general convietioii not only that federation lias come to stay, but that the time has arrived when the position and needs of Australia imperatively demand all tli > strength and support which the union lof the six States can give." Though 1 secession was feasible, by means of passive resistance, he did not believe' it would be resorted to, because real grievances could be redressed and disagreements amicably arranged. He regretted 'that Australia's best qualified men has abjured federal administration in favor of lawyers; also the divis'on of the House of Representatives into so many independent sections. He referred to the serious difficulties resulting from the granting of equal bicameral powers. ''Popularising Hie Senate may lead to a momentous resttlt; it may alter the whole face of State polities, and may go a long way towards the unification of Aiiuwalla. It may mortally wound responsible government as hitherto practised.'' He touched on questions of local self-defence, a white Australia, and elective Ministers.

Sir .T. Cr. Ward said Now Zealand was proud of her Ausirailan neighbors, but iiappy to be independent of the anxieties affecting Australia. He added that though some clogging of tile federal machinery was unavoidable, the people of Australia were determined to overcome the difficulties. TTe expressed a strong hope that 110 British colonies would ever give effect to the idea of an elective Executive. With regard to the Conference, he sa'd the. representatives of the colonies were friendiv, but would fearlessly and determinedly advocate views which they believed would lie for 'the good of the Empiie. Tlieir only desire was to solve Imperial problems.

Sir William Lytic said the dissaiisfaetion in the fttatea wa« mainly in the mimls of political!*. Legislation. had Wen progressive—porli'i |"h too proori-S----sive for the people of "Britain—hut Ihcy in the Connnonwr-aHh were more Hriiish than those livinir in Urilain . Mr Den kin (Moral Vwun-r) declared that (Ire alb<ralVm as to the Commonwealth loss of popularity arises from confusion of thought. Tho tors did not objpfi. In federation, but fo tlie legislation which federation had driven, and if it were to he a choice between tho earlier internecine strife and federat'on under present conditions, there would he a larjro majority in fu*or of federation, ile prophesied lliat l)i'otection would shortly have a sweepintr majority in K»'W S'oudt \Vales. Australia was a yoini£, impatient nation, but hitherto every legislative step was a step forward. If anything, fodcvaiion came ratlier too late than too earlv. '