The Federal Commission.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 93, 29 April 1901, Page 2

The Federal Commission.

HOW AUSTRALIANS VIEW THE QUESTION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright j Sydney, April 28. ‘ r The following members of tho New Zealand Federal Commissioners arc pus--3 sengers by the Waibora:—LieutenantColonel Pitt, Messrs Russell, Bowen, Reid • and wife, and Luke and wife. The others 1 will probably leave during the next wcok. - They assemble in Wellington on May Bth 1 to draft a report. Mr Leys, interviewed, ! said tho Commissioners’ impression was 1 that tho people of Now South Wales did 1 n °t manifest any great ‘ interest in th<s question whether New Zealand did or did 1 not join Federation. The fact that they came here in the very midst of the Federal elections had probably a good deal to do with this. In all the other colonies, tho enquiries of tho Commission excited a great deal of public interest, but, at the same time, it was of a very academic kind. __ The people of Australia feel towards New Zealand very much as the New Zealanders feel towards them. A feeling of great friendliness exists, but there seems no very extensive knowledge of New Zealand affairs or unity of interests. The public men of ail States express q strong and sincere desire that New Zealand should come in to Federation, but enquiries raised doubts as to whether Nfw Zealand should look for permanent markets for its products. These States all have such large areas of agricultural lands capable of growing every kind of product, and their productiveness is expanding at such a rate that they avc unlikely to bo dependent upon outside products, except at times of exceptional scarcity. With regard to defence, it was agreed by all the military experts consulted that New Zealalaud’s defence ’ should be a navy, and for a very loim period New Zealand must look to the British navy for protection. lie added that it must not bo inferred that the Commissioners came to any conclusion adverse :o Federation. Their labors were entirely directed to taking evidence, ail 4 they purposely avoided all meetings discussing the main issues till the wholo evidence had been accumulated.