The Evening post. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1891.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 33, 9 February 1891, Page 2

The Evening post. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1891.

THE FEDERAL CONFERENCE. New Zbaland will be well ana worthily represented at the coming Federation Conference—no colony moro so, indeed, although New Zealand ia realiy losa interested than any other in the aohemo of Federation. Sir QjBOBOK Gbet, Sir Harkt Atkinson, and Captain Kussell will form a team of representatives not easily to be oqualled, and scaroely to be surpassed for statesmehlike ability, wide experience, and broad and liberal views on large questions of policy. Even the veteran Sir Hknrt Pabkes, the apostle of the present great movement, must on general grounds yield pride of place to Sir Gkoboe Gbbt, whose statesmanship two hemispheres have experienced and acknowledged, Ab a master of finance, and in general ability, Australia has no statesman entitled to take precedence of Sir Harrt Atkinbon, while at tbe last Conference on the subjeot, Captain Russkll showed how capable he was of holding his own with the best representative men of the other qolonies. Sending three suoh men to bear its message, we oan only regret that Now Zealand is unable to approach her sister colonies with a more welooms greeting. The delegates do nor go up with a free hand, but simply to obey the mandate of Parliament, which in this instance represents the deliberate voice of the oonntry. They go, not to take aotual part and lot in the great scheme of Federation, or to assist as partners in bringing it to full fruition, but to express the regret whioh this colony feola at being compelled by overwhelming considerations of local policy to stand aloof from tbe proposed great confederation, and to pursue a solitary and comparatively isolated course. It would no doubt have been a more grateful task had the colony's representatives been authorised to give in its adhesion to the Federation, fc-uoh a decision wonld have been warmly welcomed by Australia, and a just value would have been placed, upon the assistacoe of suoh men as Sir Gboboe Grbt, Sir Harrt Atkinson, and. Captain Russell in giving force and vitality to the noble idea. Possibly none present at the Conference will regret more than our delegates that they are restricted to whatraaypossibly appear a somewhat selfish attitude, bnt evep if, in their own minds, some oE them, Sir Harrt Atkinson in particular, might have liked an embassy of different purport, we cannot donbt that all three wilL loyally, and to the utmost of their ability, represent and defend the views and decision* of this colony to preserve absolute insnlar independence under existing oiroumstances and for some time to come, at least. It will be tbejr task to render this deoision as littla unpalatable as possible to the other colonies, and to make them thoroughly understand, how entirely New Zealand sympathises witS. their aspirations towards extended national life. Although debarred, by considerations, whioh do not obtain in any of the continental oolonies, from merging its identity in a. Federal Union, New Zealand undoubtedly watches Australian progress in that direction with the liveliest interest and the moat intense Bjmpathy, and chorishes a hope that the day may come when it will no longer beneoessary to stand apart. Oat representatives have a delicate and a difficult task to perform, but they may be trusted to perform, it in a manner whioh will leave nothing to b» desired, and whioh will tend to raise instead of lowering New Zealand in the estimation, and, let us hope, the respect and affection, of the federating colonies. The most perfeot confidence may be repoßed in the men who will represent us, and if the colony had been polled, no three better men oould have been, chosen to sustain our oredit on this important oooasion. It may not, indeed, prove altogether a matter for regret to the Conferenoe that Sir Gsobqb Gbst, Sir Habbt Atkinson, and Captain Eosskll represent a non-federating colony. They will be able, as absolutely disinterested parties, warmly sympathising with the object in viow, but having no selfish interests to serve, and independent of all local jealousies, to do mnch to smooth over matters, and to assist the Conference greatly in coming to a praotioal deoision. The opinions and advice of Sir J Ge9B«x Gbbt and Sir Habbt Atkinson'

'on a subject they aro bo eminently qualified to treat of, cam ot fail tooommand attention and respect, while Captain Ecsbell'S shrewd common tense will likewise have its value Tha Conference, we may be sure, will be quick to recognise the advantages to be derived from the presence of the New Zealand dologates, tod although wo do not join the proposed federation, It may not unreasonably be hoped that they will be able to materially promote a satisfactory solution of the problem of Australian Federation, and in bo doing draw closer tbo bonds which, although not of federal form, will, we hope, always unite JNew Zealand and Australia.