AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8115, 10 November 1904, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

UNREALISED IDEALS.

f>EESS ASSOCIATION. 7 (Received November 10. 9.6 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, November 10. The Argus in a leading article says that, making all allowances, it cannot be said that federation has fulfilled the reasonable expectations of its friends. The Government is unstable, and party spirit runs riot, and tho federation is constantly attempting to encroach on State rights, neglecting federal work. Defence was one of the primary objects, and yet Parliament has left tho troops practically unarmed, and is now proceeding to tear up th? careful work 'done in the way of organisation. The economies expected have all been proved illusory. The Government costs far more than it did in prefederation days. Federation instead of producing economy has piled up expenses at home, and reduced confidence and provoked .resentment abroad.