SIR GEORGE ON FEDERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 35, 11 February 1891, Page 4

SIR GEORGE ON FEDERATION.

The Sydney papers commend Sir George Grey's views in favour of a loose federation' rather than a hard-and-faßtbond. The Sydney "Evening News'remarks: —"His advice follows closely upon the reading of Lord Carring" bon's paper before the London Colonial Institute, and } though ibhas nob yeb reached here in very greab detail, would appear to form a valuable counterpoise to some of bhe sentiments of our ex-Governor, which were rather more English than Australian. Lord Carrington's statemenbs were, as always, worthy of attenbion, bub he made certain minor suggestions as to the necessiby of ' drawing closer bhe bond with bhe Empire,' as the process is generallx called, which do nob find any endorsement from the New Zealand sbatesman." Sir George, who has had experience as a colonial Governor in'"the birne when the bond was very close indeed, and subsequently as a colonial Premier, and has known not only one gteat dependency, bub several, by no means favours increased stringency. In regard to federation of the more local kind, bhab which the Convention will soon meet to discuss, the objections to the Grey scheme seem to be thab it would be slow and cumbersome; that in any emergency ib would take too long to decide whether a special Council should be called, and then too long to decide upon its instructions. In any case, however, the advice of a veteran is always worth considering, and it is sincerely to be hoped that Sir George Grey's health may be such as to enable him to carry oub his intenbion of attending the Convention. Though what he wishes will hardly be adopted in ita entirety, he wibh his knowledge and experience dating back to a period near that of colonial construction and settlement) would form a useful and

woithy rallying point for those who dread the eflecb of excessive centralisation.'' The " Sydney Morning Herald " regards the opinions expressed by the veberan. sbabesman as nob bouching the federation of the Australian colonies, but relating to bhab higher federation of bhe Empire, and even of bhe Anglo-Saxon race, which may be at presenb regarded as the dreamland of statesmanship. Viewing ib in bhis lighb our contemporary remarks: "Though ib will possibly nob satisfy the sanguine—and ib cerbainly falls far shortof bhe anticipations of bhe labourers in bhe cause of Imperial Federation yet, as the views of a stabesman who has brought to the question a wide experience and matured thought on problems of government, it will commend itself to the sober-minded as a possible, if nob bhe mosb probable, evolution of the political and social forces bhab are moving in all countries occupied by bhe Englishspeaking race."

At present bhepreponderating tendency in Ausbralia is bowards a close union bebween bhe several colonies of Ausbralasia, and a constitution is now being prepared by the Attorney-General of Tasmania, to be submitted bo bhe approaching Convenbion, providing for a federation based upon the constitution of the United States. The counsel of Sir George Grey when such a scheme is being moulded will be exceedingly valuable, and from the attention which his views have already commanded, ib is evidenb thab his opinions will command profound attention and respectful consideration.