TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25. THE FEDERAIi CAPJTAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7397, 25 February 1902, Page 2

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25. THE FEDERAIi CAPJTAL.

The jealousy between Victoria and New South Wales in regard to the site for a Federal capital seems rather to grow than to diminish, as the acrimonious debate on Friday in the Federal House would tend to prove. As a, Victorian p=per recently put it, Sir William Lyne has arranged the first step towards tbe selection of the capital site to the complete satisfaction of nobody, and seems likely to continue successful aloDg the same line. The senatorial tour of inspection cf New South Wales appears to have been somewhat farcical, for we are told that the senators — one always associates with senators the idea of dignified movement — were packed off at a few days' notice upon a lightning tour, and plainly showed by their manner of going that ihey did not like it. And who can blame them, having due regard to senatorial importance and the hot weather ? Their itinerary gave them an average of less than half a day at each of the thirteen rival sites, which allowed little time for on the spot wire-pulling, or adequate inspection of the charms of the aspirants for metropolitan distinction. True, there were no champagne luncheons or triumphal arches, or two hour speeches, but the discoverers in a hurry were well shaken by the hands, and generally made much of, and it is reasonable to suppose that by the time they returned to Melbourne they were as far from arriving at a conclusion regarding a site for the Federal capital as they were before they set out. Ib seems that the tour of the senators is only an incident in the work of selection, and that when the members of the House of Representatives get a chance they will go over the eatce ground, and then the Federal Parliament will discuss tbe subject. How warm the discussion may be expected to be can be It ft to the imagination of those who have knowledge of what the Australian politician is like when his ang-y passions are aroused. In the meantime, it seems tolerably certain that the Commonwealth will have (o do without a new capital for some time to come, as there is little likelihood of the Parliament dealing dbfinitely with the subject during the current session. And, while the matter is hung up, interested parties are saying nasty tbinga about each other, and the senatorial tripping is characterised by many as a palpable " blind " for a postponement of consideration of the question. But the more warlike are not inclined to let things drift so quietly, evidently believing that there is more or less truth in the proverb "A map may lose his goods for want of demanding them." If, but the thing is impossible, there were any cure for hidebound parochialism, a suitable site for a Federal capital could be quickly decided upon ; now there is likelihood of the strongest paity of wire-pullers influencing the selection of one whioh may not fairly fill the bill. A long time -mill elapse before provincialism will be overshadowed by national patriotism, and it is evident — here again history will repeat itself — that a united Australia, united in spirit as well as in name, will be only possible through dissension. This may sound paradoxical, but it certainly seems better that the fighting should be done — and it is inevitable, apparently— at the beginning than later on. Of course, it would have been much nicer if bickeriogs and jealousy could have been eliminated from the great national movement, but that was impossible while human nature is human nature. And the sooner the fighting is over the better it will be for Australia. The rivalry of the States must, however, oontinue for some time, and in a measure one oan feel thankful that, apart from any other considerations, New Zealand is not one of the disputant?. We are well able to get up pretty little rows of our own — eipecially during the sittings of Parliament, and they are satisfying enough for the individual who is not gluttonous.