The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1890.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 33, 10 February 1890, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1890.

I'or the cau3a {hat lacks assistance, Ftr the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in ths distarice, And the good that we can Co.

Great and important issues hang upon the deliberations which hare just been inaugurated at Melbourne, and in which representatives of all the colonies of Australasia take part. Th c immediate qiiestioh to be determined is—Shall these colonies agree to ente r i into a Federation, political, legislative* commercial and defensive? Signs are not wanting that this question will be answered in the affirmative—-the mes* pregnant ol these being the evident good understanding arrived at between Mr Duncan Gillies, Premier of Victoria, and Sir Henry Parfces, Premier of New South Wales. Hiiherco, the fact that the leaders of opinion in these two great colonies hays held diametrically opposite views on the subject of Fed'eiatiofi has constituted tne chief obstacle to the furtherance of the

dream of a great and united Australia, and in consequence of that antagonism the Federal Council, which was constituted some seven years ago, has not been in any sense a representative body, owing to the abstention of New South Wales from any participation in its proceedings. Now, however, a distinct rapprochement has been arrived at by the two big rivals in the colonial family, and the realisation of the Federation idea has at a leap been brought within the range of practical politics.

Thnsj despite the non-committal attitude of the New Zealand delegates, whose instructions are understood to be to oppose any formal legislative union, but to warmly support such federal proposals as will further free interchange between the different colonies, there is a speedy prospect of the" whole Isiand-Continent of Australia, with its little appanage, Tasmania, entering into a union similar to that of the Canadian Dominion. The graceful act of Mr Gillies in pressing Sir Henry Parkes to take the chair at the Federation Conference and the good sense of the latter in insisting upon adherence to the usual rule that the Premier of the colony where the Conference sits should preside, mark a cordiality of feeling which augurs well for a thorough agreement being anived at between the two leading colonies, and where they unitedly lead, the others (always excepting New Zealand) are sure to follow. The eloquent speech of Sir Henry Parkes, in responding to the toast of " United Australia," will have done much to cement the good feeling which for the nonce prevails between Victoria and New South Wales; and the notices of motion already given indicate that each colony is to have its amour propre satisfied, its rivalries reconciled, and its pet project to some extent recognised in the preliminary steps to the formation of the Dominion of Australia.

To New Zealand the consummation of this union will be an important matter, as we have before pointed out. even although she should be a nonparticipant in the federal bond. It will be to our interest to have only one central authority, instead of six divided and diverse ones, to negotiate with over such questions as extradition and marriage laws, quarantine, Customs and other regulations, etc. It might be a slight disadvantage to us if the Federal Union should determine upon imposing differential tariffs with a view to forcing New Zealand into the Federation ; but our superior climate and resources will compensate for this, and as Australians must have our products, they will simply tax themselves in their endeavour to punish us for our federal dissent. The disposition manifested by a number ot the colonies, if not a majority, to make the establishment oi an Intercolonial Customs Union precede the question of Federation, will, if given effect to, remove tnis danger. There could be no possible reason for New Zealand entering into federation with Australia save for purposes of naval defence, and the fact that we already co-operate in that matter, and receive the full benefit of the services di the British -Squadron, proves / that federation is not essential to /the attainment of that end. It is jusp possible that the Imperial authority's might combine with Federated' -Australia lo deny us the benefits of naval defence, unless we agreed to New Zealand joining the Federation. In such case, it would be hard to say what New Zealand ought.to do ; but we scarcely think the Federationists will push their " fad " to that

These are a few of the possibilities that are wrapped up in the pregnant movement for federation, of which the Federation Conference now assembled at Melbourne is the visible sign. They show that New Zealand has set out on a line oi policy which may lead to very grave and critical situations. The seriousness of these considerations has not been lost sight of in entering upon this policy, and the majority of New Zealanders are, we think, perfectly satisfied that, grave though the consequences may be of the course to which our delegates are committed, it is a thousand times preferable to face these ' than to encounter the undoubted evils ! and complications that would flow from our political union with the ; tropical and sub-tropical Australian colonies, with their labour and. other complications already looming up. The end of the path upon which New Zealand, from to-day, enters, no mortal eye can see ; but we are firmly persuaded that it will be for the lasting weal of this colony and its people. In travelling towards her legitimate goal New Zealand may have to encounter tribulation and trial, and temporary estrangement from her Austral sisters as well as the V) mother country. Even so ; it is by such paths that the way to greatness, individual or national,, ever lies, and when in the coming century, New Zealand is proud and free, and the head of an independent and separate dominion, her sons will look back with grateful affection to those sires who did not shrink from the thorny path of duty. Meanwhile; the proceedings now going on at Melbourne will be watched with engrossing; interest by all New Zealand, and the prayer of everyone will be that true wisdom may guide the deliberations, and that the common good will override all considerations of personal advantage or local aggrandisement