FEDERATION COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 50, 28 February 1901, Page 2

FEDERATION COMMISSION.

(By Telegraph—Special to the Star.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

The Federation Commission resumed at. half-past two. Mr William Booth, sawmiller, and chairman of various companies, opposed New Zealand federating with Australia, except for defence purposes. The distinctive character of the New Zealand people gave promise ottueir becoming a great nation, ihe oisod-antao-es of federation were not compensated by tlie advantages; nor would it provide for the healthy development of the national character of the people of this colony. New Zealand oucrhl to be in a position, under proper administration, to borrow on ns advantageous terms as Australia. Federation would tend to create unfriendliness inwards New Zealand. He recognised no reason for federation except for defence purposes. He thought Australian federation would advance Imperial federation. He thought the people of New Zealand were destined to become a great and enlightened nation, with different traits than Australians. He hoped to =cc Vustraiian statesmen having courage where white labour cannot be employed. but coloured labour can, to draw a boundary line between them. He believed there might be in the remote future danger from the wholesale influx of Chinese. _ To Mr Leys: He thought a .|om agreement between New Zealand, Australia and England could be easily effected. Federation would nol injuriously affect The meat industry. _ * Mr R. K. Simpson, farmer, of Eangitikei, advocated watching- the development of federation in Australia before

joining-. ~, i Mr A. E. Paissell, farmer,of Palmerston North, opposed federation, the only o-ain being in the export of our surplus agricultural produce to Australia. He condemned federation also on racial grounds. Mr Myer Castleberg, manager of the Farmer's' Co-operative Association, thought on the whole New /ea.lar-d had everything to lose and nothing to <»am by federation. To Mr Beauchamp: He thought the colony "sufficiently self-contained to work out Its own destiny. Mr Andrew Collins Baker, representative of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, said from a labour point of view New Zealand hacj everything to lose by federation. Ihe Labour party objected to federation with any eountrv employing coloured, sweated', or boy labour. He saw Chinese in Sydney working at furniture makin"- sixteen hours daily. He did not think New Zealand had any reason to fear an influx of coloured labour. New Zealand, by joining the Commonwealth, would not improve the condition of -Australian workers, and this colony would be out-voted. Mr P. J. O'llegan, law student and ex-M._H.TR-., was strongly in favour of federation. If New Zealand must stay outside the Federation because it was 1200 miles distant from Australia, the same argument applied with tenfold force to Fiji. He combated objections based on racial grounds. He admitted New Zealand could do without Australia, just as Australia could live without New Zealand. New Zealand's principal trade was with Sydney, whicli he attributed to free trade. If'federation was to be sacrificed for protection the latter should show some n-ood reason for its .existence and for disputes between different

trades. „ ~ , , To the Chairman: New Zealand should epter the Commonwealth upon equal terms with the original States, and the Constitution must be modified to admit Maoris. Any loss of revenue would have to be made good by direct taxation, which he approved. ihe tendency of centralised government was to increase their powers. To Captain Eussell: Possibly the great numerical, majority of co-ter-minus States might usurp the powers of States like New Zealand. He would not approve of New Zealand joining the Federation in the present condition of the Commonwealth Constitution. He considered the danger of competition by coloured races exaggerated. „ ~, . To Mr Luke: He had no faith in reciprocity, and was opposed to the protection of industries which could not exist without- spoon feeding. He would prefer a Federal High Court of Appeal to the Privy Council. To Mr Leys: He did not believe the colony would lose much by-federation, but some sacrifice \voidd„be necessary. He believed the central -Government would gradually increase its powers but the majority must rule. He did not fear a majority vote in. Australia would over-ride States like New Zealaud and injuriously circumscribe Che powers of smaller States. He thought railways and other department's would be as well administered at a distance as now. The Commission adjourned until Thursday. The Commission travel North by rail on Friday, and hold their first sitting at Auckland on Monday next. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. WELLINGTON, this day. The Federation Commission met at 10 o'clock. Mr William Gray, Secretary to the Post and Telegraoh Department, thought that the services could not be as economically managed under federation as now, as New Zealand : was too far from the centre of ad-1 ministration. New Zealand might suffer a loss of revenue through its surpluses being diverted to meet deficits of Australia. • Mr P. C. Freeth, journalist, opposed New Zealand joining the Commonwealth, the colony beingv self-con-tained and capable of attaining a very high national ideal. Mr A. A. Corigan, manager of the D.1.C., Wellington, believed that federation would injuriously affect New Zealand's trade aud commerce. Mr T. W. Hislop, solicitor, exM.H.R. and Cabinet Minister, thought that many great social and political problems could only be solved by federation, which he advocated on numerous grounds. Under the federal constitution the majority of .voters in the Federal Parliament might absorb -the power of States. ilr H. W. Hewles, manager of the Wellington Woollen 'Company,/ endorsed the evidence of Mr John Itoss. Mr S. Kirkputriek, of Nelson, jam manufacturer, said that federation would seriously injure his business. Mr A. H. Cooper, bootmaker, president of the Trades and Labour Council, said that body strongly opposes federation. Mr^ Dalrymple, farmer, supported federation in the agricultural Interests,