FEDERATION COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 48, 26 February 1901, Page 2

FEDERATION COMMISSION.

TO-DAY'S V ROC EE DI NG S.

(By Telegraph—Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, this day

The Federation Commission met at 10 a.m. to-day. A written statement was put in by Mr John Loss (Sargood"s). He opposed Federation with Australia, which would be disadvantageous to New Zealand. The latter could stand alone. New Zealand had better await developments in Australia. Mr McKay, chief officer of the Labo tir Department, produced a statement showing a larger average oi wages, with shorter hours of labour, in New Zealand than Australia. He believed that the majority there would prefer the New Zealand arbitration system to a Wage Hoard. NewNew Zealand was less subject to depressions than Australia. Mr .). L. Kelly (journalist) said Federation, though it might possibly be advantageous by pooling aud consolidating loans, would seriously affect the tariff and national life of New Zealand, and injure its trade. He did not. think a reciprocal tariff practicable, but a Customs union might ;be made with the Mother Country.

Martin Chapman, barrister, approved of Federation because it would save New Zealand from hostile tariff*-. He did not believe the colony would be over-ridden by the larger population of Australia. Any loss of Customs revenue could be restored by taxation in other forms. He thought uniform laws in certain matters desirable, and believed that New Zealand ought to pay her fair share of the cost of trans-continental railways. The tendency of Federation must be to absorb the power of States. He disapproved of New Zealand joining Federation as an inferior State.

Mr David Nathan, merchant, regarded Federation as a sentimental idea, entailing heavy loss to New Zealand. If it joined he favoured an Imperial Zollverein.