The Federal Commission.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 36, 12 February 1901, Page 3

The Federal Commission.

'Per Press Association. Dunedin, last night.

Frederick Revans Chapman, solicitor, and Chairman of the Conciliation Board, "was the first witness examined before the Federation Commission to-day. Speaking generally as to an ideal to bo obtained, -lie was in favor of Federation, but he saw difficulties in the present Australian Constitution which seemed to debar New Zealand from entering. He had the opinion that, had New Zealand from the first shown extreme anxiety to go in with tho rest of the colonies, it would not have advanced the scheme, for Victoria, which was mainly responsible for the - ultimate federation, would have seen in New Zealand a competitor, whereas Victoria’s object was an extension of the protective area for their goods. Referring to the Constitution, he thought that the treatment of the native races would put a stigma on our Maoris, which would be a great drawback. That, however, was remedial, as the Commonwealth had power to alter their Constitution in some ways. He preferred that his addresses delivered before the Otago Instituto in 1899, which contained. his matured views regarding Federation, should be taken by the Commission as his opinion on the subject. _

To the Chairman: He .had considered the question of establishment of a Federal Court of Appeal, and personally disagreed with what had been done, for it practically did away with appeal to the Privy Council. That might do all right in the case of Australia, but in the case of New Zealand it meant that the appeal from our Supreme Court would be an appeal to Australia, and it would bo better if the Privy Council were retained as a final Court of Appeal, seeing that the appeal had to go out of the country in any case.

To Mr Roberts; As a whole, he did not think the manufacturing and agricultural interests would suffer by Federation, but thought it undeniable that some classes of manufacture would suffer.

Sydney Charles Brown and H. Bodda, delegates of the Bootmakers’ Union, gave evidence against Federation as likely to do injury to the boot manufacturing industry. The condition of the workers would be more rapidly improved by remaining outside of Federation. William Hood, President of the Workers’ Political Committee, strongly favored Federation as advantageous from an industrial and commercial point of view. To avoid dislocation at the outset terms should be made, like Westralia had done, to continue the tariff for say five years. New Zealand manufacturers could hold their own. The difference in wares was not so great as commonly thought. His views, he believed, were not held by the majority of the workers. Donald Beid, wool merchant, an exMinister of the Crown, said his impression from a political aspect was decidedly against Federation. The ultimate result would be to dwarf the minds of the people in respect to political questions, and deaden their efforts. Bepresentation would have to be by a man of large capital, or those who made a business of politics. He favored a reciprocity treaty as soon as possible. Peter Barr, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, favored federation because of the opening up of a larger market. Tho colony, he said, should wait to learn the attitude of the Commonwealth. Any injury to industries would be overbalanced by the benefits of a larger market. Bobert Slater, Secretary of the Trades and Labor Council, thought that federating was a retrograde step, putting the colony back 18 years. It would take that time for the other colonies to catch up to us in social and other legislation. The efficiency of the New Zealand worker was greater, but they had reason to fear competition, because of the longer.hours and lower wages in Australia.