THE FEDERATION CONVENTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1891, Page 5

THE FEDERATION CONVENTION.

THE NEW ZEALAND DELEGATES RETURNED.

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW,

Sir Harry Atkinson and the Hon. Capbain Russell, two of the New Zealand delegates to the Federal Convention, returned here by the steamer Manapouri this morning en route for Wellington. Sir Harry Atkinson took up quarters at the Grand Hotel, and Captain Russell at the Northern Club. SIR HARRY ATKINSON INTERVIEWED. Sir Harry Atkinson was interviewed at the Grand Hotel, Princes-street, and though pressed for time gave his impressions of the Federation Convention very concisely, but freely. Regarding his own health he said ho had been very well during hi 3 visit to Australia, and that ho felt very much the same as when he left Wellington. He hoped, however, that the trip had on the whole proved beneticial. Asked his opinion as to the value of the Conference, Sir Harry said, "I have no doubb the Conference has materially aided federation. Whether immediate federation springs from it or not, I chink it will do a great deal of good in the direction of bringing the colonies together. I think it was a mistake that New Zealand did not send seven delegates there." "Is there a greater probability than formerly of New Zealand joining the federation ?"

"My view as to the necessity of New Zealand joining, if possible, was very much strengthened by what I saw, bub I am of opinion that it would be quite impossible for New Zealand to join under the present Acb, without circumstances materially changed and of which change I see no prospect. I think the colonial debts must be taken over entirely. Ido not see how a colony situated as New Zealand is can possibly agree to part with its revenue, and nob have its liabilities taken over as well."

" If the Commonwealth be set up what colonies do you think v ill come in at firsb ?" "It is very difficulb for me to say. NewSouth Wales, Victoria, and Queensland men seem to think that the Bill will probably suit them." " Do you think the settlement arrived at with regard to the Senate's control over money Bills was a satisfactory one ?" "Yes. I think ib was a satisfactory compromise. I should have preferred the Senate having, in words, co-ordinate power with the House of Representabives, bub I think it has probably gob the subsbance of power as proposed. So much depends on the Constitution as interpreted, but if the Act reads as I think ib does then bhere is enough power in the Senate.' " What commercial effect would the federation have upon New Zealand ?" " There you open a very deep question. At prtfseub, if 1 remember rightly, we pay in duty £144,000, and only collect some £18,000 from other colonies' goods. : If there is free trade between the various colonies we should have a very considerable saving. We should also have a very large market open for our oats, etc." " What would probably be the tariff adopted under federation ?"

"I should not like to express an opinion, bub I would say ib musb be a materially high tariff to raise sufficient revenue." "Do you think the representation of New Zealand in the federation would be adequate to ensure her interests would be properly protected ?" "I have not the least doubt that her interests would be thoroughly looked after by the proposed representation." " Would the Federation take over the liabilities we have incurred from loan for forts and other defence works, and pay the interest on this expenditure ?" " They would take over the wholo co3t of the material, and they would pay for our forts. It is proposed to take over immediately under the newßill the Customsduties, excise, post office (which would include the mail services), and defence."

" And if the federation takes over the Custom House, how is New Zealand to raise revenue to pay its public debt ?" "What they propose to do is to hand back all our Customs duties, after deducting the cost of Federal Government in New Zealand. That is where our difficulty comes in. We collect £1,500,000 in round numbers, and any tariff they would be likely to propose would produce very much less than this. If the Victorian tariff were imposed the amount collected in New Zealand would be only about £1,100,000 ; and if an average of the present tariffs throughout the colonies were imposed we should only collect £1,350,000; so that we stand to lose between £150,000 and £400,000. " What in your opinion would be the position of New Zealand if we stood out of the federation ?"

*' I think it would be very detrimental indeed ; and I think so more strongly the more I see of the question ; but I could not advise New Zealand to join under the present Act. I am, however, in great hopes that these men who think several of the large Australian colonies can federate under the present Act will be able to briny about their federation. They would then see the necessity of getting all the other colonies in, and such alterations will be made as will be found necessary to achieve that end." CAPTAIN RUSSELL INTERVIEWED. The Hon. Captain Russell was interviewed by a Star reporter at the Northern Club, and gave his views on the subject of the Conference, without reserve. He aaid : "I think we did an extremely wrong thing in not sending seven delegates to the Conference instead of three, because other colonies whose positions are equally as difficult as our own sent seven representatives, and were, therefore, in a better position to express their opinions than were the New Zealand delegates, being only three in number. The voting was not taken by colonies, but by individual delegates." "What has been the result of the Convention, co far as your own views are concerned ?" "The result undoubtedly has been to impress upon me how desirable a thing federation is, were it possible for us to join." " Have your views altered since you left New Zealand to attend the Convention ?" "My views have advanced as to the desirableness of federation, but I do not think it is yet clear that we can join. I would rather not express my opinion more definitely upon that question until I have had time to digest the great mass of information I have acquired, and the discussions I have had with leading men of the other colonies, our duty having been rather to construct a possible constitution than to enter into any specific agreement." " What was the attitude of the New Zealand delegates generally ?" " Wo were on excellent terms throughout, though we differed upon many points." " What was the feeling of the other delegates with regard to New Zealand's attitude?" " The feeling before we arrived appeared to be that we were unlikely to join, and many leading members of the Convention still wonder if we are to gain anything by doing so. , ' " Is it considered that.there is a.greater probability of New Zealand joining than hitherto?" " I do nob think they hare definitely do-

cided in their own minds as co what ia likely to come out of the Convention with regard to any one of the colonies." " If a Commonwealth were set up, what colonies do you think would come in?"

" I really could not say. The general agreement has been thab when the question is referred to the various colonies, ib shall not be made a party question. The leading' men of tho Australian colonies themselves do not know what is going to happen. We all feel that the cause of federation has progressed enormously since the Federal Conference, but in many tilings connected with federabion public opinion has not yet crystallised in any one of the colonies."

" What position would New Zealfind hold wero she to enter the federation ?'

" We should have a very good place in the federation, and would be in no danger of being out-voted. As far as I remember, 30,000 is the quota for a member, and we being the third mosb populous colony would have a very fair representation."

" Is ib proposed that the Federation shall take over the debts of the various colonies?"

" Well, it seems to me to be the weak spot in the whole scheme—thafc our debt* should not be taken over. There is power for the Commonwealth, to levy the whole of the excise and customs duties. There is power also to direct taxation anel power to borrow, but it is left for the Federal Parliament hereafter to decide whether colonial debts should or should not be taken over, or any part of the colonial debts. Tho theory is thab a certain proportion of the colonial revenue will be taken ior federal purposes and the balance returned to the colonies. It does seem to me dangerous thab we should have so large a debt and be unable to levy sufficient taxation to meet interest and expenses of State Government. The other dolegates, however, did nob attach so much importance tothispointas we did. The Federation would take over the defences of the whole of tho colonies. Probably the whole cost of the fortifications of the several colonies would be immediately transferred to the Commonwealth, bub federation would involve considerably more expense on defence than has beeu incurred in regard to New Zealand." " Would the federal tariff be more likely to take a protective or free trade character !" "It is impossible to say. That question was evaded all round, but it is held that io would be improbable that direct taxation would be resorted to." "What, in your opinion, will be the position of New Zealund if wo decide to stand out?" " The danger would stare us in the face thab we should have a preponderating power close co us thab would necessaaiiy receive more attention from the Imperial Government than we could hope to receive. New Zealand's views with regard to the whole of the Paoitic would not of course receive so much, attention as if she belonged to the federation." " Bub what would the attitude of Australia be to New Zealand were the latfcei to stawd out?" " I observed no inclination to force ua into joining the federation. There was nothing but the best of goodwill manifested towards this colony." •• You do not think ib would result ire the imposition of prohibitory tariff's on New Zealand goods ?" " No, I do nob think so." " Do you think New Zealand can secure commercial reciprocity without federation with Australia?" " Nobody was prepared to discuss that) question at all. Ib was federation, and nothing bub federation. I should not like to say it is impossible, but at the present time , I' am afraid it is nob very probable." ( >, ~ "You do not think tiha* is sufficient to outweigh your objections to federation ?" " I do not think so." In conclusion, Captain Russell stated that the whole subject would be re opened in the next session of Pariiamenb, and an important discussion would necessarily ensue as to the attitude to be taken up by tbia colony.