The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, AI'UIL 11, 1891.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2924, 11 April 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, AI'UIL 11, 1891.

Equal and exact justice to all »u«u. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Tun difficulties in the way of federation become more pronounced as the discussion progresses. As soon as an attempt is made to give definite shape to any resolution it becomes evident either that the members are charged with some secret ultimatum from their own Government, inconsistent with the federation idea, or else that they are gifted with an unusually la.'ge share of stubborness of their own. The representatives of the smaller colonies are advocates of State rights. Those of the larger ones are advocates of popular government. State rights unduly enlarged will subject the larger communities to the domination of the smaller, which would be intolerable. On the other hand if the representatives of the people are allowed too much sway, the colonies which have the greatest number of people- -New South Wales and 'Victoria, will ride roughshod over all the; rest. Neither j side seems content with a provision ] such as the full and absolute veto of the Senate which shall render the aggression of the other side impossible. Each wants a little latitude to dictate to the other. Apparently the delegates have fallen into the same error as the Trades Union agitators, who believe that unless they have power to tyrannise; and domineer, they have no power at all.

The power proposed to lie given to the Senate is a stumbling block to another class of thinkers. Apparently they cannot dissociate their minds from the idea of the present colonial " Upper Houses "' and consequently they imagine that the Senate will necessarily be at variance with the representatives of the people, and will have it in its power to block reform. "But the Federal Senate, if properly elected, will be as truly representative of the people as the Lower House, and if it rasists their will, its members will be promptly sent to the rightabout when they go up for re-election. Consequently, they can, at the worst, do no more than delay legislation, and delay often serves a very good end, by showing more clearly and forcibly the need of the reform required.

Especially in such circumstances ;ia tins present, is this consideration of weight. We make a great mistake it we suppose that the Federal Parliament is to legislate for Australia as minutely and under as great pressure as the several colonial legislatures which will still he in full swing. Tfrsn, i(; is evident w<slioukl ail lie harried and worried with over much legislation. Hather should the Federal legislature endeavour (o deline and apply sunh broad general principles as are recognised and valued in all the colonies—freedom of internal trade, observance of contract, and the principles on which civil and religious liberty is grounded. A federation on this basis will be a federation in reality, and not merely

in name. It will give definite u.\ |>n.v.sion 1.0 existiut: aspirations. Hut, if tin; if11■;l is tolerated that tin: Federal I*;«r-lisiincMit is simply to add llic yoke (if tlit: whitus and fancies of its inc.m(hts to those which these over-governed communities already have to bear, the future of Federa limi is not ut all hopeful. However, Ihere is a /('>•/.': tnilir.ii.~a. golden mean -and it is possible by perse veiance ami candour to arrive at it. Indolence and prejudice, in this, as in so ninny other filings, art* the great obstacles in the way to success.