LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 104, 12 February 1940, Page 4

LOOKING BACK.

FIFTY YEAR® SYNE. (From the “Guardian/’ Feb. 12, 1890). The Federation Problem.—The federation conference now sitting in Melbourne is an unmistakable evidence of the growth of a national sentiment in Australia, and, whether or not it be immediately productive of a federal union, marks a distinct advance toward the bringing about of whatever, in the near future is certain to eventuate—the consolidation of the colonies of the Australian continent into one Dominion. Whether Tasmania will elect*to be a 'part of, the new Dominion remains to be seen—probably she will, but that Now Zealand will be included we very much doubt. Certainly public opinion is dead against any such merger, and from the North Cape to the Bluff the sentiment in general that we should for the present at anyrate “paddle our own eanoo.” The only strong inducement that we can see at present is that the Dominion would doubtless bo able to consolidate the debts of its component parts, and could borrow money more cheaply than could either colony separately, and on this way, if New Zealand were a member, it may bo that considerable relief might be obtained by the lightening of our annual burden of interest. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. § . ; ..... (From the “Guardian,” Feb, 12, 1915). Use of American Flag.—The United States has dispatched a vigorous Note to Germany, and a milder protest to Britain, that the destruction of. American sfiips through the use of the American flag will be viewed with tho gravest concern, and probably will lead to serious complications. _ ; Russia.—At the opening of the Duma session, the premier declared the cobquest of Galicia rendered stronger the union of the Russian people. and the fraternal rapproachment of Russian and Polish people. At the same time the Slav tribes were growing closer to one another. “The Russian Army,” he said, “is stronger than ever, and. the radiant future before Russia is beginning to dawn on the walls of Constantinople. The war had had little influence on our domestic and economic life, and Russia is a country which has not yet exerted its full strength.