FEDERATION.

Evening Star, Issue 6701, 8 September 1885, Page 4

FEDERATION.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporters.]

WELLINGTON, September 7.

The sitting of the House this afternoon was taken up with the Federation debate. The Premier opened the question by moving—“ That in the opinion of this House it is inadvisable for this Colony to join the Federal Council of Australasia under the existing Federal Council Act.” He prefaced his remarks by referring to the proceedings in connection with the question. When Federation was discussed by the House last year he said that as the Federal Council Bill did not contain two provisions for which the Convention contended, there seemed to him nothing open for New Zealand to do but to decline to join the Federal Council of Australasia. Federation would have to come sooner or later, in one of three ways—viz., either Imperial Federation, Australasian Federation, or New Zealand Federation. Commencing with New Zealand Federation, ho was of opinion that it would have been possible had the old provincial system been maintained. Then Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji might have joined us. He even yet thought that a Federation in which the Pacific Islands would join was possible. Imperial Federation, he thought, was far distant, as it would seriously impair our colonising functions. As to Austral-

Asian Federation, if New South Wales joined New Zealand would have to join. His resolution’ simply meant that at present this Colony was not prepared to take part in the proposed Federal Council of Australasia. But whether we had Federation or not, two questions required to be dealt with at once. He drew attention to the correspondence recently laid on the table bearing on the question, and said it was abundantly plain from what experts had to say that naval defence must be of an Australian character. Union was necessary, for in the matter of defence one colony could not stand alone. Public opinion tended in the direction that the colonies must do something for themthing for themselves in the way of natural defence. There was also the question of the Pacific Islands. In conclusion, he stated that from his point of view some kind of Federation was necessary, and he did not agree with those who said that Australian Federation would prevent their having Imperial Federation.

Mr Macandrew followed in an eloquent speech in support of his proposal for a political confederation or alliance of the whole English speaking peoples throughout the world. He denied that his idea was Utopian or beyond the region of practical politics. He urged that a proposal for a grand political confederation would come with a peculiar grace from New Zealand as one of the youngest nations. That was a distinction that might well be coveted. The hon. member caused a laugh by informing the Honse that thirty-one years ago it used to take members of Parliament seventy days to go from Otago to the then seat of Government at Auckland,.

Mr Beetham urged that members should hesitate before agreeing to the Premier’s resolution. If they entered into the Federal Council, and limited the subjects to be dealt with, no possible harm could result. All that was necessary was to make provision for preserving our local autonomy. He moved—“ (1) That, in order to secure the permanent unity of the Empire, some form of Federation is essential. (2) That no scheme of Federation should interfere with the existing rights of local Parliaments as regards local affairs. (3) That any scheme of Imperial Federation should combine on an equitable basis the resources of the Empire for the maintenance of the common interests, and adequately providing for an organised defence of common rights.” Major Atkinson twitted the Premier with making a speech the whole tendency of which pointed to the necessity of Federation. While the burden of his speech showed that ho held that opinion very strongly, yet unfortunately he had been compelled to bring down a resolution which might indefinitely postpone the Federation of the colonies. He expressed the opinion that once any colony became part of the Federal Council there would be no fear of its separating afterwards. Because the New Zealand Government had failed to secure modifications in the Federal Council Act that were required, that was an insufficient reason tor preventing this Colony from joining the Council under that Act as passed by the Imperial Parliament. As to the Premier’s remarks about the days of Provincialism, he denied that the cases were analogous. The provinces were never intended to bo separate States, but were only regarded as municipalities.. As soon as they become dangerous by their enormous demandsfor expenditure the Houseabolishcd them. He was not speaking as to the wisdom of that step, but merely pointing out that the provinces never exorcised a clear and independent authority. He strongly urged that this Colony should join the Federal Council of Australasia. He looked on Australasian Federation as the first step towards a general federation. He should like to move as an amendment to the Premier’s resolution “That this House is of opinion thatNewZealand should join the Federal Council”; but he had satisfied himself from conversation with members that they had not yet made up their minds on this matter. It was quite evident that this Parliament was not yet ripe for tiie expression of an opinion; and that being so, 1m hoped that they would not go so far as the Premier proposed, and say “Wo cannot federate under the present Act.” He asked the Government to accept, in place of the resolution, the proposed following amendment ; “ That, in the opinion of this House, it is inadvisable for this Colony during the present session, and pending further consideration by the people of the Colony on the important issues involved, to adopt legislation having for its object the joining of New Zealand in the Federal Council of Australasia.” That seemed to him to harmonise more with the speech of the Premier. The Premier : I accept that.

Mr Montgomery said he could not see that Major Atkinson’s resolutions altered materially the Premier’s proposal as to naval protection from a foreign foe. He thought while the British nag was flying over the Colony they should demand a reasonable amount of protection from Great Britain, say two or three armed cruisers, New Zealand having to pay the cost of their management while they were here. lie objected to federating with the Australian colonies as proposed. He could quite conceive the whole British-speaking people having some laws looking back to one common origin, and being drawn closely together, so that when one part was oppressed the rest would come to the rescue. He denied that so far as confederation with Australasia was concerned there was any common setiment in the matter. He regretted that the Premier had allowed his resolution to be superseded by a less decided one. Mr Downie Stewart said that the essence of Federation was community of interest, and in confederating with Australia that would be wanting so far as New Zealand was concerned.

Mr Rolleston expressed the opinion that New Zealand should have joined in Australasian Federation, and said that Major Atkinson’s resolution merely delayed the matter.

The Native Minister said that although the time for the confederation of the Englishspeaking peoples of the world would come, we should not see it, therefore those questions were outside of present consideration. To him it seemed that the first step towards Federation of the Empire was the Federation of the United Kingdom. Imperial Federation was out of the question ; it was even dangerous to the colonies. Then, as to Australasian Federation, it had not been shown that advantages would result from the adoption of the Federal Council Act. The danger of a federal system was that once a colony was drawn into it it could not with honor retire. New Zealand could always ask for naval assistance from Great Britain, because Great Britain had her commerce to defend. He urged that for some years we should watch the results of Australasian Federation, and then join if it was thought necessary. That was our duty as prudent men. Mr Conolly thought that action in the direction of joining in Australasian Federation should be taken immediately. He could not conceive any possible danger in joining the new Federal Council, but thought that considerable advantages would result from that step. Tliis question was not a new one to the people at large, it having been freely discussed some eighteen months ago. He looked upon Imperial Federation and Federation of the English-speaking races as impossible. The Premier’s resolution (as modified), Mr Macandrew’s resolution, and Mr Bectham’s resolutions were then put seriatim and carried on the voices.