The Press. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1899. AN AUSTRALIAN ALLIANCE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10267, 9 February 1899, Page 4

The Press. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1899. AN AUSTRALIAN ALLIANCE.

It is stated that Australian Federation is now within measurable distance. The manner in which Victoria and the other colonies have met Mr. Reid and hare conceded point after point, shows that if Federation is not consummated the blame will rest entirely with New South Wales. In fact, in declaring that the federal capital shall be in New South Wales territory the colony of Victoria has given up much. Melbourne- would really be more central than Sydney or any other place in New South Wales. For Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania and Victoria, Melbourne is more convenient than Sydney. However, this sop of the capital has been given to New South Wales, and the other points of which some of that colony's politicians have made much are also to be conceded. It may be, therefore, that Federation is near, and if it is, it may be well for us in New Zealand to ask ourselves in what relation we are to stand to this Australian Commonwealth. We do not think we can join in the Federation. But may wo not make seme commercial or ether treaty ? We gather from the speeches and remarks of some Australian politicians that they.do not look with favour upon any agreement being come to with New Zealand. They say New Zealand should have joined, and as she has not, she cannot expect to remain out of the union and yet reap its advantages. We do not want any onesided arrangement, but if we could show that some treaty between the Federation and New Zealand would be for the advantage of both Australia and New Zealand, we do not sec why some agreement should not be made. We labour, in considering such a question, under a great disadvantage. Siuco tho doath cf Sir Harry Atkinson our Ministries havo not kept in touch with Australia. It is useless, however, for some of our Ministers to speak of Imperialism and o,f the Federation of the Empire if we cannot come to even a commercial understanding with our nearest neighbours, who are part of the same Empire as ourselves. Imperialism is all very well in the abstract, but is this small bit of Imperialism possible, namely, an alliance with Australia? If not, we should drop using the word, for it is meaningless. If we had been , wise, New Zealand would have been represented at the various Federation Conventions, and an " open door" would have been left for us. We have nothing to fear from Australian competition. Our climate and soil enable us to compete in all agricultural products that are grown in the temperate zone. Nor need wo fear the Australian manufacturers. Our climate, our water power, and our coal, will enable us to hold our place, if we cannot distance,our neighbours. Just as a commercial treaty with France was for England's benefit, so a properly thought-out commercial treaty would b<3 beneficial to us; and we might be brought into accord with Australia in other ways. We hope we may not wake up some of these days and discover that we have lost by not trying to draw the bonds of friendship, amity, and commercial relationship closer" betweeu Australia and ourselves. If, for instance, there wore no Customs duties against many of our products, our farmers could bo assured of a market that is now denied them. And even some of our manufacturers could compete with those of a Southern Continent. . Is it too'late to consider the question? We do not think it is. What is required is a carefully thought-out scheme—a scheme that could be shown to be advantageous to] both. It will pay Australia to have a good customer for her products in New Zealand, and it will also pay us to carry on trade with a near neighbour instead.oFrelying entirely on a distant purchaser. We should not forget that at present.a little more than one-ninth of all our trade is now done with Australia. In 1897 we imported from Australia and Tasmania .£1,001,008 wcrth of goods, and we exported £1,325,784. The balance of trade lies with us. The trade is large, and it could be increased, and what would pay us well would be an encouragement of tourist traffic to our health resorts, when the burning sun of the Australian summer is so trying to so many residents on that continent. Do we realise that the trade with Australia and Tasmania, that is, imports and exports combined, is greater than with all other countries put together, leaving out the United Kingdom ? The figures are: Trade with Australia and Tasmania, £2,325,787"; with all ether countries, America, foreign countries, Pacific Islands, Asia, Canada, etc., etc., £2,185,571. Remembering these figures, is it not for our advantage, and for Australia's advantage too, to see if further trade cannot be promoted, and mutual benefits conferred. We do'not know if the idea promulgated long ago of some Australian Appellate Court might not be assented to, and that might help to make us feel that we were not strangers. But that is a small matter compared with the promotion of commerce. Now is the time for the consideration of the question, and we urge on politicians for once to proach the consideration of a big question that must affect our future, and let the many petty party questions of which their platform speeches so often consist take a secondary place:" We believe, before Federation is consummated, that it would be easier to make terms than after

the Commonwealth is fairly started. That is why we urge, not Federation, but some kind of commercial alliance that will make us remember that wo are neighbours and friends, and belong to one Empire."