FRDEHATION COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 49, 27 February 1901, Page 2

FRDEHATION COMMISSION.

(By Telegraph--Special to "Star.') . .VEI-LINC-TON, Tuesday. The Federation Commission rc-j sumed at half-past two. Mr K. S. Baldwin, patent agent. said the question bad been discussed. Nt a conference "• of patent agents m Melbourne, when tbe conclusion arrived at was that it would be disadvantageous to New Zealand to'abolish 'the local patent ofliee, mainly in consequence of distance from the federal capital. The extra fee which New Zealand applicants for patents would have lo pay in ease of nonfederation would not he material. Mr .Malcolm McPherson, general manager of the Loan and Mercantile Ao-ene.y Company, said federation would'be Injurious to New Zealand ou many grounds. Our trade with Australia was not of such importance as was generally imagined. lie believed, despite an almost protective tariff, Australia would continue to import New Zealand products* • notwithstanding increased home production. He approved of a loose federation with tin; Hritish Empire, but not too close. Any decrease of Cus-j Loins revenue might be met by direct taxation and increased taxation on goods imported, lie did not think Uncollect ion of another half million oi' taxation, if required under federation, would be difficult. Mr .lames Izett, who described himself as a journalist in temporary em-J ploy by the Government, desired to j read a paper on the subject of I'edera-i tion. j Mr Reid (Solicitor-General) raised j a point whether a person in the em-j ploy of the Government could give: evidence, but abandoned his objection j on the ground that witness's Government employment was only tem-| porary. 'The paper asserted that in the event of New Zealand joining the federation, it would be unduly domi-| tinted by the adjacent Australian con-! tinent. It contended that the Com-! monwealtli Act lacked finality; audi that New Zealand colonists would be slower than Australia to adopt the federal spirit. Mr Henry llurrcll opposed- federation iv the interests of labour in New Zealand. lie believed ' free trade would operate prejudicially against trade in this colony. The effect of federation would be to reduce wages in this colony, and would be generally injurious to the prosperity of the colony to federate with Australia. _Mr" Peter Robertson Russell, saddler, supported federation, which hei said would provide more extended ■ markets iv the larger population of Australia. Federation would enablei this colony to join Australia in a great conversion scheme, which; would reduce interest on loans, lie believed in a few years federation! would enable this colony to hold the! balance of trade in its power. In the saddlery industry wages had been i very low except iv the ease of com-j peten. men, and boy labour wasj largely employed, especially in Auck-; hind, but lately condition.) had Im-j proved, lie though, the present j prosperity of New Zealand would be! enhanced by feiler.it ion, because it; would largely augment the leather, j Ha.v, and other industries, There was] no reason to fear our manufactures j would be swamped by Australian j goods, tn his opinion Xew Zealand's' in teres is would be amply safeguarded I by the Conrumnweaiih legislature. .'.le! believed this colony would save a half per cent, interest on loans through j federation. .Mr John Dttlhie, merchant, r.\--i M.H.1.., said if legislation was based; on broader grounds it would lead to j legislation on general principle*'. Seeing this colony had stood out, it.| had better await the development, of j federation iri. Australia., _y.atenient.il made by leaders of the federation in neighbouring polonies were con-j tradietory. lie did not think there.j was any tendency in Australia in the I direction of imposing high protection] duties, lie bill-veda liirge amount j of New Zealand products slopped to] .Australia was fur transhipment,. There was not ro large a market mi Australia for our manufactures, ns was supposed. Federation would press somewhat hardly on our smaller industries, .lie thought there would be no difficulty in this colony gaining admittance to the Commonwealth if she desired, lie did not think a reciprocal treaty with Australia | would "really benefit us. Mr John Kays, of Sharlnnd and Co., objected to Die Commonwealth Act as not being adapted to the wants' of New Zealand, but was of opinion New Zealand would benefit by trade with Australia. Under a moderate tariff! under federation our present exports to America would be diverted to Australia. On the whole he favoured federation, and felt confident the F_deral Parliament would give New Zealand fair treatment. WELLINGTON, this day. The Federation Commission met at 10 a.m. Thomas Lynch, wharf labourer, representing the Trades and Labour Council, said a meeting of forty members of the Council had recently expressed unanimous opposition to federation. The working classes regarded the question from the point of viewwhet her it would mean a. reduc.ti.onof wages or increased burdens. The Federal representatives would be too .'far removed from the control of their constituents. Higher paid workmen in New Zealand could successfully compete with low priced labour in Australia. They would show greater intelligence, ins-lead of their, mental faculties being obscured by longer hours of labour. The tendency of Mr Barton's policy would be. reproductions of America- New Zealand had no reason to fear coloured labour. New | Zealand should adopt a free trade policy with the world. The remoteness of American products afforded : sufficient protection. Major Madoeks, staff officer, did not i think New Zealand would benefit by' federation. Her forces would be eon--1 rolled from Austral in under conditions unfavourable to the colony. The Colony's forces are .adequate for hind defence. He did not. believe New Zealand would be- benefited by the transcontinental railway in concentrating and despatching troops.

Mr William Cable, president of the Engineers' Association, said New Zealand was unable to compete with Australia in the iron under Federation. He Wiis opposed to Federation. The export of New Zealand iuade agricultural' machinery to Australia had I's.U-n o_ ia late years.

Mr J. I. Luke, engineer, said he was strongjy opposed to roue run on. -New _eaK..-u8 munulactures would not compete with Australia. ,\u- .-William Crabtrec, engineer, 26 years* in colony, iCourcd -.toleration on equal terms. Mr V. iiooercson, _;S years in New Zealand, strongly oppofc-u i-tuerauon ou commercial grounds. Mr W. A. Esans, Congregational Minister, opposed Federation because of New Zealand's insular position and homogeneous, population, and free constitution. .Mining KAPOWAL The upper level crosscut is in 58 feet from the surface. Hunches of quart/ and pug have been passed, and there is an iron seam from 1 to 2 inches wide in which driving is proceeding. The. winze is 14 feet 6 inches below the level. The stuff has produced dish prospects to the present depth, some of them being good. At present there is a good deal of water to contend with. It may ease off in a few days' time, and meanwhile a stope will' be started from the rise above No. 2 level. The rise, which is now up .'.7 feet, wil! have to be discontinued for a little while, so as not to interfere with the stope.