THE FEDERATION COMMISSION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10953, 1 May 1901, Page 6

THE FEDERATION COMMISSION.

The Federation Commission has completed its labours in Australia, and in a few days will meet in New Zealand to prepare its report. Has anyone a serious doubt as to what the finding of the Commission will be upon the main questions submitted for their investigation and report? We think not. Almost from the outset there were signs that the question had been prejudged. Several pronounced anti-Federa-tionists were appointed members of the Commission, and, although these gentlemen may have done their best to approach th'e subject in a judicial manner, there were occasions when in the cross-examina-tion of witnesses their true feelings made themselves evident. No doubt they were encouraged in this by the fact that in this colony at least the great majority of the witnesses iield practically the same views as themselves. But, further than this, members of the commission have adopted the unusual course of giving utterance to their impressions and opinions to Press interviewers since the Commission commenced its labours in Australia. Publicity is an excellent thing in matters affecting the public weal, and we should be sorry to in any way check the flow of information from any legitimate source. It is open to question, however, whether Royal Commissioners, who are appointed by his Excellency the Governor to prepare a report for liiin and his responsible advisers, to be submitted in due course to the public, hay* any justification for disclosing the results of their investigations to anyone but those responsible for their. appointment. Be that as it may, it was certainly injudicious on the part of the Chairman, of the Commission and Mr Leys to yield to the persuasions of the Australian pressmen, and submit to the ordeal of interviewing, before the Commission had presented its report at the proper quarter. Wβ quite believe, as Mr. Leys states, that the Commissioners have not yet formally discussed the main issue among themselves. Mr. Leys, however, is a shrewd, keeulv observant man, and in his last interview he has said sufficient to indicate that in his opinion there are good reasons wiiy New Zealand should not federate. He states that "Enquiries raised doubts as to whether: New Zealand should look for permanent j markets in Australia for its produce," and he also remarks that there seems to be no, "unity of interest" felt by either i Australians or New Zealanders. On other \ issues he is equally outspoken. Following on. this intefVkw, we now find the Post-master-General, immediately on his arrival i in Australia, giving expression to practically the same views. Certainly we are not told the reasons with which Mr. Ward supports his opinion, but he is definite enough in his statement that "he saw no possibility of New Zealand entering the Federation, at any rate until she bad seen

how the Commonwealth, affected Australia." Mr. Ward commits himself to this view without waiting for the report of the Royal Commission, and this , may be taken as a. fair illustration of the value placed upon- the probable findings of the Commission. The fact is that the whole matter has been prejudged. The Commission, no doubt, will prove of some value, inasmuch that it will serve to place on" record certain information likely to be useful in the future. That it will repay the cost it has entailed upon the colony, we cannot for a moment believe. The great bulk of the people of New Zealand have shown no interest in the question of Federation with Australia, and within the boundaries of the new Commonwealththe public generally appear equally unconcerned as to whether New Zealand throws in its lot witk them or not. Leading t>ublie men there have shown a strong desire that New Zealand should join the Federation, and seem willing to admit us as an original State, but when it comes to analysing the advantages to bs derived by this colony from such a union, it is difficult to secure anything more definite than the vaguest possibilities. The interest in the Commission's report is largely reduced by the fact that its findings are regarded aiS a foregone conclusion. At the same time it will be interesting to learn what the Commissioners have to say upon the question of trade prospects and the industrial conditions in Australia as compared with the state of things existing in this colony.