ANNEXATION AND FEDERATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1045, 9 January 1884, Page 2

ANNEXATION AND FEDERATION.

The Hon F. Whitaker, one of the delegates to the late Intercolonial Conference, addressed a public meeting last night in the Theatre Royal on the proceedings of the Conference, and the question of Federation and Annexation, h'is Worship the Mayor presided. There was a good attendance. On coming forward Mr Whitaker was well received. He said—lt was not a matter of surprise to him, on coming to Auckland, to learn that the citizens were anxious to know what had been done at the late Convention, but he felt it due to Government to consult it before making any address, in case he complicated matters or embarrassed the action of the Government. The Premier telegraphed to him that he saw no objection to his giving an address on the proceedings of the Cortvention. He might at the outset say that the proceedings throughout were of the moat friendly character, and he never met a body of men more fully bent op doing their duty to the colonies they represente i than those he met at Sydney. If ever it was his lot to act as a delegate again he hoped to meet such a body of men, or men actuated by a similar spirit. He and his colleague were favorable]to the admission of the Prsss, but the majority of the delegates opposed it, and gave, he must say, cogent reasons. In carrying on the business the delegates determined to have no long speeches, but to transact the matter in a free conversation, which proved very useful. Some things were said in conversation about the °French convict scheme which it would have been highly impolitic to have published in the press, as it would have given rise to great unpleasantness with the French authorities. The New South Wales Parliament was also sitting at the time, and it would have hampered the action and the speech of the New South Wales delegates, and complicated matters in the Legislature of that colony. The lecturer then detailed the circumstances which led to the meeting of the Conference, viz., the annexation of New Guinea by the Queensland GovernmeUt, and the disavowal of such step by the Imperial authorities. He thought the action of the Imperial authorities not unreasonable, as isolated colonies might make discordant proposals as to annexation which the Home Government could not adopt or entertain. When the Australian colonies combined and agreed on a common policy with regard to annexation, federation and the South Sea Islands, their representations would bo listened to by the Imperial Government. The question arose in appointing the delegates to the Conference as to how they were to be selected. It was agreed as the respective Governments had to be responsible, and carry matters through, the gentlemen appointed should be connected with thp several administration - He would have been glad to see Sir G. Grey at the Conference, and would have worked with him, but delegates of other colonies might have objected to New Zealand being exceptionally represented. He (Mr Whitaker) was the only delegate present who, though holding office when the Convention was arranged, was not in office at the time, Sir G. Grey, in his lata address on federation, had gone over many of the points he intended to have dealt with, and it was not necessary to do so at length. The delegates never pretended to have power to bind the colonies they represented. They only met to discuss questions which might arise, and then to recommend jointly to the Legislatures of the colonits they represented a common scheme which they deemed best to pursue, leaving it to the representatives of the people to ac-

cept or reject. The Sydney Press showed lamentable ignorance on this subject, and an impression was given that *he colonies would wake up to find their liberties gone and vested in a Convention. Nothing was more absurd. Another fallacy was that it was a meeting of private gentlemen on a holiday excursion. Their appointment as delegates was as authoritative an act as could be made by the tiovernments concerned. The Convention kept to three subjects principally, the aunexation of New Guinea, French convicts and federation. All sorts of schemes were propounded, and letters forwarded to them, which if they had been entertained and discussed would have kept the Convention yet in session. They every topic, from the extermination of rabbits to the colonisation of certain of the South Sea Islands. The Convention simply ignored them. As to the annexation of New Guinea he had teason to believe it would be an accomplished fact within six months. With regard to the French convict transportation scheme, he believed they were justified in taking any and every meins to prevent an influx of French criminals into the Australasian colonies, and he had taken action in the Conference on the subject. New Zealand was deeply interested in the federation of the South Sea Islands with the Australasian group. Fiji, it was understood at the Conference, was willing to come in. Nothing could be done with Tonga and Samoa without a breach of international law, unless by their own desire to come into the Australasian federation. It was necessary, also, to get certain other South Sea Islands put in that position, s > that if not annexed, at least they were put beyond the grasp of foreign Powers. The French the other day took possession of Easter Island, and were going on encroaching owing to the supineness of the British Government; and if the French authorities succeeded in their wicked scheme of casting their criminals wholesale upon the Pacific Islands they would become a pandemonium. The question of fedora tion r-'ceived great attention at the Convention, and they went on the preoedents of the Canadian Confederation as to the mode of action and exercise of powers, namely, to submit their concerted plans for approval to the several Legislatures. The lecturer showed the advantages to each colony were federal laws in force for fraudulent bankruptcy, extradition of offenders, cases of-wife desertion, copyright, weights, measures, etc. Instead of the Conference being regarded as desirous of the absorption of the liberties of the people, the Conference was entitled to theii gratitude. He had doubts of its success in the first instance, but these had been dissipated. The questions it had to deal with were not party questions, unity oi action was necessary. As he could not be a member of a Government again, the questions had no party character to his mind. If called upon to act as a delegate at any further Convention he would do a-, with pleasure, with ", Sir G. Grey or any other gentleman, in carrying out whate ei might be best for their adopted coun ry. The Governments represented at the Conference intended to watch the course ol events, to keep the Imperial Government advised on the questions which the delegates had d’seussed. Wo might not get federation to-day or to-morrow, but it was a necessity of the future, and he was glad hi-t name was associated with the initiation of what he hoped would yet be the federation of the whole Pacific.’

Tho lecture was loudly applauded, and a motion that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to tho Hon F. Whitiker for his able and comprehensive address was carried by acclamation.