The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1900. NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 294, 11 December 1900, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1900. NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

For the causa that lacks assistance, For the -sn-onj tHat needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The Hon. E. J. Seddon is not to be allowed to make his visit to New South "Wales on the occasion of federation jubilations of a wholly festive character if some of the members of the Australasian Federation League can have their heart-:, desire. At a recent meeting of the League, Mr Price, M.L.A., moved, "That the Eight Honourable E. J. Seddon, the Premier of New Zealand, be interviewed on his arrival in Sydney, with the view of bringing New Zealand into the Federation.'' He said: "There were matters oi vital interest to Australia with which New Zealand was concerned, and it did seem desirable to bring our New Zealand cousins into the union.'"' The chairman, Mr W. McMillan, with a caution commensurate with the dignity of his position, suggested that before such an interview took place, it would be desirable for the executive of the League to meet and arrange the line of argument which should be taken. He expressed himself as being favourable to-New Zea-' land joining the Federation, on the understanding that the same conditions were complied with as those by which all the Australian colonies Were bound together. "Australia might have treaties possibly with New Zealand, or it might have commercial reciprocity with New Zealand, but if New Zealand wanted to come into our great National Union she must come in with full adherence to all the great elements of the Australian Constitution, namely, one parliament, one executive, one judiciary, and one people. Every true Federalist would hope for the union of New Zealand with Australia, but no Federalist, he supposed, wanted to create two powers in the South Pacific.'' The Chairman of the League might have remembered on this occasion that the proposal for union emanated in this instance from one of his own League, and not from New Zealand; and it may be as well if he and others learn as early as possible, that should New Zealand ever join in th% Australian Federation, she will not seek to enter by any back door;'and that if such proposed union' means absorption, or the death of measures and legislation that are distinctly of New Zealand, then she is likely to long re-; main a generous and sympathetic neighbour of the Australian Com-, mon wealth, but not a member of it. We are not fearful for Mr Seddon in the part that he shall play in this or any other proposed interview with the expressed object of leading

Iliim to commit himself. Mr Seddon is not the kind of man to hastily promise anything- under the exhilaration ol: Sew-South Wales hospitality that he knows his country is not ripe for. In Victoria and in New South Wales, the Federation of the colonies has been lectured upon and written about for many years past, and so the people have, presumably, been informed as to its principles. But the same cannot be said concerning ourselves. Wo have been busy about other matters, matters which, in our eyes, are of no less importance. Now that Federation promises to become a live subject, we may expect it to be thoroughly ventilated from our standpoint; but until we are intelligently seized with the whole facts pertaining to this matter, we have no intention of simply playing a game of follow the leader. " All that can be wisely and safely done for the present has been done; the attitude of the colony may be fairly defined as a sympathetic one; the Premier has sanctioned the appointment of a Commission to make enquiries, to collect data, and to report. We have earned somewhat of a reputation for experimental legislation in the past, but now occasion arises it may be shown that we know how to be prudent as well as venturesome.

If tlie issue at stake were one of sentiment merely, then federation with Australia might be settled without delay; but we have seen, as many in the federating colonies themselves are beginning to see, there is more in this movement than appears on the surface. Many who voted for the federation of the colonies, now that they are brought face to face with certain responsibilities, are exclaiming. "We never anticipated anything like this." Many persons in giving their votes in favour of federation believed that greater economy in the administration of the affairs of the States would follow; but already heated discussions are heard on the salaries to be paid to the various State Governors; controversies are rife as to the eligibility of the State representatives for positions under the Commonwealth administration; the speeches of the two leaders in New South Wales, Mensrs Barton and Reid, bristle with ambiguities; while an air of approaching solemnity is settling upon those who face the considerable financial burden that must be carried somehow so soon as the ship of Commonwealth is started. The fact that Aye are separated from Australia by 1200 miles of sea renders it probable that we will have to depend more upon our own resources for growth and prosperity than upon any imaginary benefit to be derived from union with the Australian Commonwealth.

With the sentiment expressed by Mr McMillan, that "Australia might have treaties possibly with New Zealand, or it nugkt have commercial reciprocity with New Zealand," and what it indicates, we confess to a good deal of sympathy. While taking care of our own house hold for a time longer, we are prepared to do everything to cultivate a neighbourly spirit. Australians have received a good deal of our produce in the past because it has suited them. When tlie blight of drought rests upon thousands of square miles of territory the fruits of a more genial clime are heartily welcome to those who dwell in large Australian cities. On our part, we expect still to provide a fair field for Australian enterprise, men, and money. And if with the march of time and the development of our common interests, federation with Australia should be found desirable, we shall not be found holding back from honourable union.