NEW ZEALAND AND THE COMMONWEALTH.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10882, 5 February 1901, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND AND THE COMMONWEALTH.

MR BARTON INTERVIEWED. (from otra sp-cul TOB-aspo-TDifrr.) SYDNEY, January 30. "Comel'' whispered the orderly to mc, after I had patiently waited for about three hours—"Come with mc, and I'll smuggle you in through the back door." And surely enough through the bock door I was smuggled, finding myself at lawst in tho presence of the Prune Minister of all Australia; and I inwardly blessed tiiat I>;■< k door and the strategic orderly. But -«r them, so many were the people desiring admission—politicians, officials, representa* tiveM of the Australian Press, and seekers nfter Commonwealth api-ointments—tba£ had 1 been obliged to await my turn, I might very well have remained on the wrong side of the door until now. For in two dingy rooms in a corner of the New South Wales Treasury building you have what at present is the honie of the Commonwealth Government. One room, until lately occupied by a Treasury official, contain*. Mr Barton, tha other, a little pokey plica off the verandah, houses the Commonwealth "staff," tho said stuff consisting of Mr Barton's private secretary, a typist, and v Ixiy to go messages. But if tht* external", do not go far to -suggest tho majesty of the Commonwealth, vmi are not long in tho presence of Air Barton before you begin to breathe the atinoKpher© of the "higher politics." You are no les attracted by his unassuming yet dignified manner than impressed with the sutexm.uiliko tone of his mmd and utterano-**, .**(> sharply in contrast with the mere political astuteness of his chief protagonist -Mr Reid. I had.j-ome to dh-cuss the Federal position a* it now affected New Zealand, iiinl it was of that, after somewhat general wiiverr-utioß, that I addressed myself. "You have*, of course, been interviewed b'-.oio as Mr Edmund Bartort, leader of the Fedrral party," 1 said apologetically, "but .sin.-., then the position has changed materially, and it is your view as Australian Prime Minister that I now wish to ascertain. " "And for that reason," said Mr Barton laughing-, "you wilt experience rather inure difficulty "in ascertaining it. But really, on the" broad question of New Zealand coming in to the Federation, I can luld nothing to what I have already said on tha subject, with which your jieopk- are thoroughly familiarised. _ou know that I ■ii.ni heartily wishful that New Zealand nhoiild come in with us, and I have endeavoured to show that she would reap similar advantage with tho States of the main land. New Zealand can now only bi allowed to decide for herself." "But do you think," I asked, "the share taken by New Zealand in the Commonwealth inaugural ceremonies and the splendid feeling then shown has aroused her inter&i_, tud thut sentimentally events have paved tho way for union?" "As to that," replied Mr Barton, "I can only say that the visit of so many New Zealandera at the occasion of our great festival gave them an opportunity to see more of us, as it gave to us an opportunity to better appreciate them. But whether it will quicl_en the desire for union on the part of your people, of course I cannot pretend to know. "It aeema not mo much a question as to whether New Zealand will join the union, but rather how she is likely to be affected by stopping out. How, for* Instance, is the Australian tariff likely to affect New Zealand triido?" "It is likely to affect New Zealand trade unfavourably," returned Mr Barton without hesitation; "so that," he went on, "exclusion has its penalties, just the same aa inclusion has it* price. But," he added, quietly, "do not suppose that that is a penalty wilfully or "willingly inflicted by Australia. It is the mete consequence of Federation to Australia, and the mere consequence of its refusal to New Zealand." I afterwards spoke to Mr Barton about the mail question, pointing out that the action of the Union Company in buying into the Canadian-Australian line might lead to New Zealand being again made the first port of cull, and I asked how the Federal Government would be likely to act in such a contingency. "That depends on two factors," said Mr Barton—"ono of which is the attitude of New Zealand, and tho other is the attitude of the Federal Postmaster-General. I need only say that in this respect the interests of New South Wales and Queensland* at any rate, are distinct from tho interests of New Zealand." We then got on to the subject of Mr Seddon's scheme for an island confederacy, and «m this subject Mr Barton spoke as follows: * "It is undeniable that area, population, and collective resources give the Commonwealth the stronger position to start with. That 'being so, if, in the course of time, parts of the Pacific are added to the Commonwealth, and parts of the Pacific are added to New Zealand, so as to form a second federation, lho fact, stand- out that one of these two federations will be much stronger than ths other. In that event, if rivalry is insisted on, Australia must hold the stronger hand. It seems to mc that the question for New Zealand to consider is whether she will endeavour to obtain some slight part of the Pacific as an addition to herself, and continue for ever in the weaker position of the two confederacies, or whether she will be able to take her share of the might and wealth of the Australasian Commonwealth. As to which is the better thing to do, I think the answer is easy. ' "You huvo said that the tariff is likely to injuriously affect New Zculand trade, but do you not allow that there is a possiCTlity of reciprocity.'' "Reciprocity," replied Mr Barton, "is not impossible, but it presents very serious difficulties. These difficulties have been encountered in evety endeavour to obtain any reciprocal arrangement between any two of the Australian colonies. One. such agreement was secured between Victoria and Tasmania, which proved abortive, and was abandoned. If New Zealand courts the idea that sim wants reciprocity us a, means of avoiding federation, she will not by that win Australia to the idea of reciprocity." But the small allowance of time Mr Barton could spare mc had now expired, and in rising to take my leave. I asked him if there was any probability of him visiting New Zealand soon? "Well," he said, "it is quite impossible for mc to get away now, and I cannot very well absent myself during the Federal session, m that it is unlikely that I will bo free for any pleasure of thut kind for fomo months to I'oiw. But it has always been a desire of mine to see your beautiful country, and to meet some of its citizens, who, by "the specimens we have met, are so wonderfully luce our own. And that just reminds me.' said Mr Barton, "that I had the pleasure of meeting IVlr Seddon on several occasions when he was over here, and we have become cordial friends. I have the highest admiration of his personal qualities and affectionate character. Indeed,'' he resumed, referring to the celebrutious, "to know them is to lika them, and we feel immensely complimented by their admiration of our celebra- j tions and their sympathy in our rejoicing." ] To end up, Mr Barton's words to mc were: "The nearer New Zealand comes to Australia, the better we shall be all through." ]