ISLAND FEDERATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 7047, 8 October 1900, Page 2

ISLAND FEDERATION.

Pbr Press Association. — By Electric

Telegraph. — Copyright.

Received October 8, 7.7 p.m.

Sydnby, Ootober 6.

With reference to the visit of H.M.S. Mildura to hoist the flag in the Islands, Sir W. J. Lyne does not think this step necessary. The Premier evidently relies on Mr Chamberlain's assurance that matters referring to the Islands will be subject to consultation with the Commonwealth. Received October 7, 11.25 p.m.

Sydney, October 7.

Speaking at the Federal League, Sir W. J. Lyne stated that something had recently been said to the effect that certain islands in the Pacific were to be annexed to New Zealand. Some little time ago, when the matter was referred to the Imperial authorities, an assurance was given that the Colonial Premiers should be consulted before any action was taken. It seemed to him a proper thing for Great Britain to defer linking together any of the islands to New Zealand until such time as the Federal Government and the Federal Parliament had discussed what was best in the interests of both Austialia and New Zealand. He had sent a strong protest to the Imperial authorities asking them to do nothing in the meantime. Australia must have control over all the islands belonging to Great Britain in the South Pacific. He also believed that the sentiment of the people of New Zealand would force that Government into the Australian Federation. "With New Zealand's productivenebS and a uniform tariff against I the outside world, he felt it must be to ' the best interests of the people of New Zealand to fall in line with them. Such 1 a linking together under the Australian , Commonwealth would form one impregnable whole.