FEDERATED AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 211, 6 September 1899, Page 5

FEDERATED AUSTRALIA.

THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES ON MR BARTON'S ARTICLE.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this clay,

The New Zealand Times, commenting on Mr Barton's federation article, says :—"lt seems to us, after reading all that Mr Barton has advanced, that the case for New Zealand joining the federation is weakened, rfather than strengthened by the article." After conceding- the good points of the Federal Constitution, the article continues: —"The effective nature of the union contemplated, upon Which Mr. Barton lays stress, might in certain circumstances prove the greatest, objection to this country entering the federation. The Commonwealth is to be indissoluble. Once the momentous question is answered in the affirmative, there is no way of withdrawing. In our opinion it would be Tvrong to enter into an indissoluble union with Australia. There should be power given to withdraw from t'lie federation. At any rate, provision should be made for referring to arbitration any proposal for severance that might be made so that the fearful alternative of civil war may be placed outside the range of possibility. On the subject of the powers of the different States to control their domestic affairs, the Times finds Mr Barton persuasive, but unconvincing, and regrets that for lack of statistics he was not in a position to show I'he effect upon New Zealand of the clauses regulating the powers of the Federal Parliametnt in the matter of taxation." The article concludes: "Finaly, Mr Barton bids us place reliance upon the good feeling of 'a wise and liberal Parliament,' to make provision for the exceptional circumstances of particular States. It may be well to 'faintly trust the larger hope' when one can do no better, but New Zealand democrats will prefer to trust to the fears of a Parliament over which they have absolute control th;tn to the wisdom of one in which their voices would be oqnal to only one-sixth of the total strength. We May leave readers to judge whether Mr Barton has made out a case for New Zealand entering the Commonwealth."