SOME FACTS IN FAVOUR OF FEDERATION.

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

SOME FACTS IN FAVOUR OF FEDERATION.

Mr G. J. Garland writes in reply to Dr. Laishley'S articles on federation. He thinks it would be ignoble for New Zealand to stand aloof at the present juncture and then climb over after the fence had been erected around the federated States. He also condemns as flippant and humiliating the Premier's statement that this great question only meant so many more bags of onions and potatoes for export. He then proceeds:—Dr. Laishley asks: "Will it profit vs1 or will it pay us to federate?" Let us see. The following quotation is from private papers now in possession of Mr S. T. George, and they were penned some timo after the Conference of IS9I, on the subject of federation, at which Conference Sir Geo. Grey was a delegate. That far-seeing statesman says: "These arrangements are, however, but a step in advance towards the great end ultimately to be obtained—the federation of all the English-speaking nations, with a common language, a common literature, a common legislation, common sympathies, and a common faith. It ap-. pears to be their duty to unite to give to the world at large the vast benefits which would spring from such a union. That accomplished, what a vista of innumerable blessings for mankind loom in the great future which would then have been opened to man—possibly one common system of federation uniting all nations. It seems most natural and most easy for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other great portions of the Empire to follow out what they believe to bo their own destinies in

all subordinate particulars, whilst England would hardly like to be fettered in carrying out those immense duties which she has undertaken in India and other parts of the world. It would be a pity when she has achieved such wonderful results to fetter her in any way from following out the great career upon which Providence has permitted her to enter. In fact, all the English-speaking peoples must for years look to her as the Great Mother who has called them into existence and wish to see her to continue to the last, if not possessed of the largest English-speaking population, still the country to which the others look With a regard and veneration of which they cannot divest themselves. Above all things, any form of federation into which we enter should be such a one as would present no obstacle to the United States from rendering the immeasurably great service to mankind which would result from its ultimately becoming a member thereof."

The late Sir George Grey always looked forward and lived abreast of the times. The above linos were written with a view to Imperial federation, and were written about the end of IS9I.

I think the opinion of a gentleman who Is Speaker of our House of Representatives? is also worthy of our consederatlou, SJr Maurice O'Rorke, speaking upon the sub.

ject of federation, stated a few days ago: "Ho had always boon in favour of drawing the connection closer with the Australian colonies, and he considered it very sKortsighted on the part of the N.Z. Parliament to have refrained for so many years from giving an opinion upon the subject. He thought it would he a vital blow to the X.Z. grain-growers if the Australian ports were closed to our produce, which would come to pass when federation of the other colonies took place. He also regarded Australasian federation as a great Imperial desire to draw these colonies close together, and there was no doubt some kind of representation would lie given to the Australian colonies when they are federated with the Empire, lie thought the people of New Zealand would take the matter of federation in hand and insist on some steps being taken over the heads of the politicians— just as in New South Wales, where three Ministers and many members were rejected owing to their hostility to the proiVsal. The matter, he believed, would be brought

forward in a very prominent manner at the coming general elections."

These are the opinions of Sir Maurice O'Korke, who is a deep student of history, and indicates what his opinions are with regard to how things will be at the coming

elections,

Of course, the workers will not look favourably upon the subject; they will look at it from their own standpoint—every man for himself, and the Devil take the hlndertnost. When I use the term "workers," let me be clearly understood to mean '■unionists." These will face the subject because they see a bogey in our opening our ports to Sydney and others. Let them not be afraid. They are only working side by side with their own flesh and blood. There are as good rates of wages paid in Sydney to-day for skilled labour as there are in any part of New Zealand, and they cannot suffer from competition, for a New South Welshman is as fond of ease and liberty as a New Zealander. But to back up ivy reasons for advising this colony to federate, let us look at our exports to Australia. In ISos—that was before New South Wales was a free port to us—our exports were £975,543; in 1898, three years later, we exported X1,475,157—an increase of nearly half a million sterling, which is attributable cliietly to Sydney's free trade policy. If this occurred with one fvee port, what will be the result in ten years with all the ports free to us? Our trade may reasonably be expected to increase in that period sevenfold with Australia. Look at the following figures, which will show the increase in our exports from ISUO to IS'JS :—

The increase, as you will sec, is over 50 per cent., or equal to about halt the entire exports for IH'Jo. This has been the result of one open port, yet Dr. Laishley thinks we shall not proiit by our union with the federated .States.

1805. 1898. £ £ Butter 7,!>20 .. 7">,7^S Cheese G.2G4 .. 5;{,!)14' Oiltllietll .S.O1!> .. ICD.'iS Potatoes 0,871 .. 137,410 Timber 10!),.'J0S .. .1 (T.N'.iii Grass seed 11,205 .. •(.'!, 152 Msh _ .. m,7:«j Malt _ .. 25,808 Lciilhor (sayi 5,000 .. 17,017 Hides - .. 17,2!Hi Tallow _ ., ;!!),(i2(j I'rosii'i'vctl meals .. 20,120 Pliormluin tt'imx — ., 2i)[uai Machiuei'y ., 24^741