AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION'

Grey River Argus, 22 January 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION'

' - : «» 'NEW ZEALAND WILL JOIN WITHI-N FIVE YEARS. . FISHER'S OPTIMISTIC VIEW. , * (By Electric Telepraph^Copyright. . (Per Press Association.) (Red: 12.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 21. Hon. Mr. Fisher takes an optimistic view of the prospect of New Zealand eventually forming part of tlhe Austtalian Federation. Within five years he ''\hings there will be an agreement (between' che Commonwfealtjh and Dominion! on defence amd with 20 year New Zealand may join the Federation. He does not wishi to be definite as *o'ttie incorporation of the Dominiion withini the Commonwealth in the nature of any junction, or period,, that may eQapse 'before i'fl was accomplished, •but he sets down twenty years as a iSpedulative, i'ndicationi. Many. \politicians here think that! with the Labour Party seeking" -.b force the pace towards unification the probabilities of New Zealand foirmiiig a, political ■compact has become practfically more remote.