The Federal Commission.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 49, 27 February 1901, Page 3

The Federal Commission.

[By Telegraph—Press Association.] Wellington, last night. The Federation Commission resumed this morning. John Boss, merchant, wrote expressing the opinion that Federation would place us at a disadvantage, and New Zealand was quite eapablo of standing alone and working out its own destiny. J. McKay, chief clerk of the Labour Department, said wages were higher and the hours less in New Zealand than in the Australasian colonics. If New Zealand federated, our workers would be brought into unfair competition with the workers in Australia, and the result might be a reduction of wages. The other evidence was mainly against Federation. Malcolm Macplierson, general manager of the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., said that New Zealand's trade with Australia was not such an important one as many persons thought. John' Duthio, merchant, said that one advantage of Federation would bo that they would have more stable legislation He'thouglit, however, that the distance of New Zoaland from Australia was a fatal objection, but the attitude for New Zealand was to stand out until it was seen how Federation worked. The Commission adjourned till the following day. At the Federation Conference, J. L. Kelly, editor of tho New Zealand Times, said "Federation might bring some advantages to finance and trade, but in all matters remitted to the Federal Parliament, New Zealand would be at a disadvantage. A Federation would dwarf our national fife and development, and our politics would be dwarfed to a struggle against the domination of the larger States. Our borrowing powers for development of the country would bo restricted, and our law against admission of aliens might be over-ridden. He did not believe a white Australia scheme was possible. If the abolition of colored labor was imposed on Queensland, it might in the future bring about a civil yrar,