WHAT FEDERATION MEANS TO THE WORKING MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 212, 7 September 1899, Page 8

WHAT FEDERATION MEANS TO THE WORKING MAN.

You can fool some of the people all the

You eaTfool all of the people some of the But voToan't fool all of the people all of the time."—Lincoln.

So far as one can see at present-subject to ai.v later light that may accrueI Federation means, probably, the annihilation of N.Z. Labour legislation. Hence llio strenuous efforts of the rump of tno presumably discredited National Ass. to lead the working man into federation prematurely, whether right or wrong. Lcgislatlve freedom is invaluable. Thus just.as the slave adores the principle of Inbe t>, so no one knows the value of Legislative freedom, oi Self Government, until it is lost-as Ireland, for instance, can testilj.

n Federation means, probably, destructlou " t0 :11l protected local industries: and Kefore, means no work here for the local artisan in those industries. Ul Whilst federation would, probably, annihilate the N.Z. Labour legislation and dostroy protected local Industries, and, therefore, abolish employment for the local artisan in those industries.there would bo no reduction in the cost, of living here IV Ml this shows that the Hon. Captain Russell, Leader of the Opposition, and tho^e who think with him, in persistently opposing N.Z. federation have all along been moved by patriotism in the interests of the colony as a whole, including the Interests of the manual worker: otherwise.if they were impelled by party motivesagainst Labour, they would have favoured N.Z. federation. V. Note what Mr E. AY. Roper apparently felt bound to say even to the conservative Canterbury Chamber of Commerce:"Local industries, with the loss of protection, would cease to exist, as Sydney aud Melbourne, with cheap labour and low freights from Europe, would become our distributing centres. But our debt would remain, and new forms of taxation must be devised to meet the loss of Customs and the increased expense of the Federal Government. . . . It would be a subversion of democratic principles if New Zealand were to put her Government in the hands of men who might not feel under an obligation to attend to the special need of these distant islands. If we once joined we coulc not withdraw." ' VI. Further, the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Bill contains no restriction against alien immigration-such as Chinese or Austrlans—but expressly reserves lo the Commonwealth the power to control that subject as it pleases. (See Subs. XVII. of Clause 51). And be it remembered the Commonwealth parliament has the right to override any N.Z. laws on that subject.

Thus Clause 109 of the Bill runs as follows:—"When a law ot a State is inconsistent with a law of the Commonwealth, the latter shall prevail, ami the former shall, to the extent of the Inconsistency, be invalid."

VII. Finally, X.Z. federation means for the working man—so far as <';m be seen at present—(l) Ignoble ami unprofitable surrender, to a Commonwealth 1200 miles away, of legislative independence, i.e.,surrender of the rights of New Zealanders to govern themselves for Labour or other purposes; (2), largely increased taxation by reason of the loss caused by joining, and the cost of contributing to the expenses, of the Commonwealth; (•">) a very extensive destruction of employment, without any reduction in the cost of living; and (1) no provision in the Bill against alien emigration. Indeed, the Premier has practically described the movement as an onions and potatoes, not a nation-making impulse.

There are many other reasons why N.Z. Federation, as it appears at present, is objectionable: as detailed in my articles in the "Star" of Sth and 20th August and Ist inst.: which reasons deserve earnest attention.

Be assured that to ensure the continuance of New Zealand as a paradise for the man who works with his hands, the manual labourer must be vigilant to watch further developments: or, rather, as Benjamin Franklin said:—

"You must all hang together,if you would not hang separately."

11. LAISHLEY