NO, THANK YOU!

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 148, 19 December 1911, Page 4

NO, THANK YOU!

Ingenious federationists at the tima when Australia became a Commonwealth under a Federal Government, urged that as New Zealand had onee surely been a part of the continent, it ought to throw in its political lot with its territorial mother. At that time there was no division of opinion in New Zealand as to federation with Australia, and we expect it is correct to say that no New Zealander exists who desires this country to be an island suburb of Australia, ruled b}' the Federal Labor caucus. This subject has cropped up lately in respect to the Australian navy, the Commonwealth Prime Minister prophesying that very soon New Zealand would federate with Australia for possession of a joint \y e are not at all saire whether New Zealand believes that a New Zea-land-Australian navv is necessary, or whether there is any necessity for a navy at all. There is no public sentiment in the matter. The feeling of insecurity is so profound that questions of danger never stir the serenity of New Zealanders. But in the matter of the political federation which the Melbourne Herald says is so important to New Zealand, there is likely to arise a very strong and very antagonistic sentiment. The paper mentions the vital importance of the control of the Pacific, and it is vitally important. One thing is certain. When the safety of the Pacific is threatened Australia and New Zealand must necessarily be sister nations in arms, but there is no politician in New Zealand who would concede that he could not run this country better himself than a Federal Government located in Melbourne could. The, closer relationship of Australia and New Zealand by freer trade, or wholly free trade, would at least help to a more motherly feeling. Free trade between the British dominions would be a much finer federation than a political federation under which New Zealand would be one of a number of States subject to the vagaries of a dozen men of no special aptitude over a thousandmiles away. We believe the people of New Zealand will always say "\o thank vou!" '