FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 February 1890, Page 2

FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

SPEECH BY SIR HENRY PARKES,

THE OFFICIAL BANQUET.

EARNEST APPEAL FOR FEDERA- * TION.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

{BY ELECTRIC .TELEGRAPH—CO"YRIGHT.I

Melbourne, February 7. The official banquet in connection with the ■ Federation Conference was held in the.Parliament House last night, in the Queen's Hall, which" was decorated with Unusual magnificence for the occasion, and presented a brilliant spectacle. His Excellency the Governor, the Earl of Hopetoun, was present? The guests numbered about 200, and included the leading citizens of the colony. THE GOVERNORS HEALTH. The Premier, 'Me Gillies, in pioposing "The Health of the Governor,' said they had met for the purpose of ascertaining how far their hopes and aspirations justified them iv believing that they were in a position to make some suggestions,which would enable them to see, if they were convinced, that the time was ripe to unite the colonies in a great Federation. If they were enabled to come to this conclusion at the present moment, that time was ripe for ar>pointin_ a convention to deal with the matter, Federation would have made a vast advance in the interests of the whole pf Australia. As to the old country, if ever the occasion rose they would be only too glad to render assistance to the.Empire in the capacity of a united Australia. THE EARL OF HQPETOUN'S REPLY In response was axcellently delivered an°%vas well received. It was characterise 1 ' by strong sympathy with the cause o* United Australia, but he carefully re' framed from entering into any details of any probablo federation scheme. He took occasion to strongly emphasise the belief that federation, so far frova weakening the bonds of the Empire, would, as in the caso of Canada, vender tho*e colonies under the Dominion Government more loyal in their attachment to the mother country. "UNITED AUSTRALIA." Mr Service made a long speech in proposing " United Australia," a large part of Which was taken up by an explanation of • the origin and operations of tho Federal Council. In regard to this, his moat important remark was the distinct admission that the Federal Council had been a comparative failure. Although ho did not quarrel with New South' Wales for its abstention from the Council, he attributed its non-success entirely to tho Action of the mother colony, without

whose co-operation success was impossible. He predicted that in the event of any Federal scheme being adopted as the result of the Conference's comparative failure, failure would again be the result if any important colony refrained from co-operation. One of his most emphatic declarations, and one which called forth prolonged cheering, was.that " under Federation we must have no border Custom-houses." Mr Service clearly indicated that in his opinion any scheme of Federation which perpetuated tho present system of provincial protection would be a downright absurdity. SIR H. FAKKES S ADDRESS. Sir Henry Parkes, on rising to respond, was greeted with demonstrative applause. He said, in the coarse of his speech, "Per- j haps the f&f-seeingstudentarid philosophers j of history can see what is beiffg attempted I atthe present moment, whilst the general | pebpleof the Australasian colonies are going \ on with bartering and cherry-making, j without considering the immensity : of: what ban only occur onco in a World's history. There cannot be two birthdays of a national existence in this j country. Australia, with such ample space, j With such inviting varieties of soil and Climate, With such wealth hidden in the' SOiJ, and with such 'tiarlvalled richness in I the soil itself, aud with people occupying , coil Unequalled by any , iti the" whole range | of the human race in creative properties, j what is there impossible to them 1 : THE BASIS Oi"" A NATION. }

" On calculation, I have been enabled to Show that, including New Zealand, we only wfltlt tWO huhdred thousand to make four millions of people That is a basis for national life; if hot, there never will be national life ; and four millions Of people, ail of British origin* knitted to the soil by ties of birth, parentage, friendship, life, JMari'lßge, add ties of children, if they are not capable of making a nation of united Australasia, Why, we are not .fit hardly to OOOvtpy this bounteous country, Success cannoodescend upon the industrial classesof any pOr__ir of Australian territory without affecting the prosperity of the whole group. Is there a ihan living in any part of Australia who will Say that it will be to the advantage of the whole of the colonies _dr6_i_ffl Separated by petty animosities, with border Cus"tom-hous6s< aud with ull the feuds whioli border Customs getiefafce" until the ertd of time ? I do not believe there is a sane man in the population of Australia who Would say suoh an absurd thing. If that ia admitted, the question is reduced to it* very limits, and it follows th„6 some time oi* other We must unite as ono great Australian people. Let those who are opposed to the Union point out any advantage to be sained by delay. Is it possible

for human ihtellect to conceive any advantage likely to arise from delay ? Don't we All agree that delay will only make diflicultied all the greater? If this reasoning be cfcirfecfl, we have now arrived at a time when We" are fully justified by all the" laws which regulate the growth of free communities to unite under oue goveruuienb .and one flag. WHAT FEDERATION MEANS. *' A • tTnited Australia' means to me no separation from the Empire. (Loud and continuous cheers.) It means tb make no attempt to create soino separate political organisation. Admitting, us 1 do, that the interest of the people of Australia ought to be the first object, concern, and consideration, I say that our interests must not be promoted by any ras-b, thoughtless attempt; to cause separation from the grand old country of which we are all so proud. (Cheers.) Free communities must have a guiding head, and I would like to ask any. thoughtful student of history what supreme head they could have more attractive, more in consonance With the true principles of liberty, than a sovereign under whose benehceiit reign more improvements, have been carried out for the amelioration of the human race than in the reign of any other sovereign oil; tlie face of the eaft_. There is ho reign of any emperur, king, potentate, which includes such tremendous advantages aiid improve-ments-to the whole World for the spread of Christian civilisation, and for trrcitsasiflg the happiness of the masses of the human rafce to such an extent as the feign of Queen

Victoria.

natid:v t a_ tiFE.

v National life must be a broad rivet Of living water. Your fiscal orotic-n is liko unto t|je planting of a 4ew stones oh the cutting of a sandbank to direct the current bo as to ©_irserv« your own _nds. The aflestion of a tariff is _war_*l by t_e -great 6ver___bw_i# question of 'riving and Sternal na+iowal existence. The warmest advC-cat'eof free-trtfde and protection must, after all, admit that 'it is, to a large extent, „ device for carrying out human notions; but there is no huniaii notion about eternal life for a free nation. What I understand i_s_ Australia' is the sinking of ii au-bordinate 4uestionS. New South patois is I answer for _er

Parliament and people—to go _rk> this national union without making any'bargain whatever, without stipulating for any advantage whatever to ourselves, but trusting to the good faith, intelligence, and justice of the Federal Parliament.

AN EXHORTATION.

We shall try as best we may, and we are anxious to join with our neighbours in trying in every way to create this united Australia. My colleagues come here with no preconceived notion, with no binding instructions, but to enter in good faith into consultation with the rest of the members and of the gentlemen now representing seven colonies. Let us rise to the dignity of tho question challenging our attention.' There can" bo no question whatever of the result; but after all the determination rests with the population of the colonies, and whatever may be done by colonists or conferences, depend upon it, tho question being opened, it will be expanded wider and wider. Suppose we are united Australasia, we will be able to command the respect oi the world as a united nation. Every colony would be the better, for by this union no injury could resnlt to any fair claim or hortest interest, and I am altogether in favour of losing no time in bringing about this uuited Australasia.

A GREAT MOVEMENT, " Ourcounfcrymeniiitke United Statesare looking at this movement with the keenest interest, and if thoughtful men of Great Britain, America, and Australia look at the question this way, can we have better guarantee that we aro right ? Unless it can be shown that at some stated period we shall be in a better position, I say this is the time to bring about a United Australia. Irrespective of the Conference, I wish to make it known to the world that so long as I have power I shall not cease to labour to bring about this noble issue, and I have no doubt that this representative meeting reflects the sentiment of the colonies, and that, the time has come when we ought to appear before the world as ' United Australia.'" Upon Sir Henry rising to speak, the whole company stood up anil cheered him for several minutes. Similar demonstrations wero accorded him during the course of his speech, and when he sat down three cheor.s were loudly called for, and most) enthusiastically given. Tho proceedings closed with the toast of "The Chairman." <■:• TO-DAY'S SITTING OF THE CONFERENCE. Sir H. Parkea was indisposed this morning, and unable to move the resolution at tho Conference. As his resolution was the. first business to be broughc forward to-day, the Conference adjourned until Monday. It is uudeistood that Sir Henry Purke3 will make a lengthy speech in moving his resolution, and it was this conclusion which j led the Conference to adjourn owing to his |

i indisposition. His speech is naturally looked forward to as the speech of the Conference, and tho debate will be commenced after the speech has been printed and distributed. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly will entertain the delegates at his residence, Dandenong Ranges, to-morrow. Sir Henry Parities was not very well [ last' night, and the strain of the "long speech, combined with the intensely hot weather, prostrated him. PRESS OPINIONS. • Sydney, February 7. The " Daily Telegraph " say 3 the Premiers'of Victoria and New South Wales aro evidently in accord with reference to the Federation question, but it is difnc'ut to predict what the action of the other delegates may be. New Zealand, we fear, is very much inclined to say that Australasia is unripe for Federation, although Australia may be. The " Sydney Morning Herald " thinks the resolutions to be proposed by Air Deakin will be tho apple of discord as an attempt to revive tho Federal Council. Melbourne, February 7. The " Argus," referring to the banquet last night, states that Sir Henry Pafkes faced the fiscal policy boldly, and he is ready to remit the fiscal issue to the good seiise and wisdom of the Australian Parliaments. Considering that the Federal Parliament; is composed in every instance save New South Wales of representatives

Of more or less protectionist colonies, there should be little to fear among Victorian protectionists at the result. The "Age" says that if Mr Deakin's motion is carried, it will make any further advance in the direction of Federation unnecessary for the present. We do not suppose that; ■Mr Deakin's motion was deliberately intended to cancel that of Sir Henry Parked, though in effect it does.