The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY. JAN. 25, 1890.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2736, 25 January 1890, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY. JAN. 25, 1890.

Federation appears to be characteristic of the age. It is continually cropping up in new forms and in unexpected places. We hear of the Federation of English speaking races, of the Federation of the British Umpire and more recently that the Spanish speaking nations contemplate forming a Confederation. To come nearer home, we find the subject of Australian Federation occupying the attention of Colonial statesmen,

What is the re-ison for this desire for Federation 1 Whon a scheme of such large dimensions is once started, it is difficult to trace its origin or the cause which prompted it. Possibly the desire to confederate arises from a feeling amongst statesman,' that a crisis has been reached in the affairs of a nation, and tliere must either he a drawing closer together, or else disruption. The British Empire is so world wide in extent, and the interests of its component parts so diverse, that the latter contingency is considered by some people as by no moans impossible. Federation if practicable ought to be a source of strength to till countries which are thus brought together within its circle. Unity is strength. We fear, however, that Imperial Federation, at present, is more the dream of an idealist, than a subject that can claim a place within the sphere of practice politics. Several schemes have been propounded, as a basis on which' the different sections of the Empire could be federated together, and amongst others, the formation of a Parliament in Londou, to which Her Majesty's possessions in all parts of the world could send representatives. Apart from the difficulty of obtaining suitable men to serve in such a capacity, and the expense that would be incurred, it is hard to see of what practical use such a body would be. The needs of tho confederate countries would be so different, the one from the other, that a common basis of interest, even on the question of defence would be hard to find. Again, if commercial matters generally were to constitute a subject of legislation for such a body, the Customs laws would form such an apple of discord, that anything like a satisfactory agreement on this subject could hardly be expected. Imperial Federation may be accomplished in the distant future, but in the meantime the Empire will have to trust for its unity to other ties than those enacted by legislation—the ties of blood and kindred.

But that which more nearly concerns ourselves, and a problem which must come up for solution before Imperial Federation need be considered, is the question of Australian Federation. Thi? is less pretentious in its and therefore its discussion is more within the scope of the immediate present.

The United .States ot' America and the Dominion ot! Canada arc quoted as instances of what can be accomplished by confederation. The success of these federations is due, no doubt, to the fact that all portions of them are contiguous to each other, and their interests are practically tho same. That the continental colonies of Australasia should be federated together, and that such federation should prove to be for their advantage, seems

reasonable enough ; Vmt that, New Zealand would he equally henefitted by forming ono of the group is by no means clear. The requirements of New Zealand are dissimilar to those of the other colonies, in many respects, and the representation allowed on a Federal Council would be of little avail against tho combined action of the other colonies. The one great difficulty in the way of Federation amongst the Australians would be the adjustment of the tariffs. Until the Customs laws of the various colonies are brought into something like uniformity, we cannot see how Australian Federation can result in anything but friction, and that of an aggravated kind. The leading public journals of Victoria and New South Wales have but recently beeii engaged in a heated discussion on the much vexed question of Free Trade and Protection. A section of the Victorian Press has challenged the accuracy of the New South Wales statistics, and have instituted a comparison with their own, and have attempted to show the advantages of a protective policy. These articles have been replied to, and most effectively by a n:e-nber of the Legislative Chamber of the older colony. The discussion was a warm one, and differences were widened rather than healed. Can any one imagine these colonies linked together in tlis bonds of federation under existing circumstances. On one basis done can the federation of the Australian colonies he rendered practical, namely, on that of Freetrade. His Excell 'ney the Governor, speaking at a dinner given lately at Duneclin, referring to the conference about to be held to consider the Federation question, said, "he was not without hope, that the conference would bn able to come to an agreement for the purpose of promoting intercolonial Freetrade." We have before now endeavoured to show the permanent and substantial advantages that must ensue from a freotrade policy, and from no standpoint can Freetmde be reviewed with greater advantage to New Zealand than from that of Federation. Of the enormous productive powers of the. colony let the exports for the last few years bear witness. The grain crop per acre is heavier, the grazing power of the land is far greater, and the mineral wealth of New Zealand is more diverse than that of any of the other colonies. With a free Australian market, the progress of New Zealand would be phenominal. The concession of intercolonial free-trade would more than counter-balance the disadvantages under which she would be placed, in other respects, by federation. Judging from present appearances, we fear that the Australians ara not at present ripe for this great change. That it will ultimately come we do not doubt, but federation must be neither forced nor hurried, and until the time comes in the natural order of things we must be content to wait.