COLONY AND COMMONWEALTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12481, 22 April 1901, Page 5

COLONY AND COMMONWEALTH.

THE POSITION OF NEW ZEALAND. A MELBOURNE NEWSPAPER’S VIEWS. • United Press Association—By Electria Telegraph—Copyright. (Received April 20, 8.50 p.m. - ) MELBOURNE, April 20. The “Age” says that the information obtained by the New Zealand Federal Commission, though interesting, is hardly likely to have any appreciable influence on public opinion in that State. After referring to the hostile attitude of the majority of New Zealanders -and the possibility of the hostility in time being modified, it says that there are really only two points which have a mutual interest. These are the commercial and defence aspects. The former it has been shown from the New’ Zealand standpoint does not offer’ any sufficient inducement to favourably influence Federation, whilst the latter is on© recognised as likely to cause friction. New Zealand, separated from Australia by a wide ocean stretch, can hardly be included in any scheme of naval coast defence which will give general satisfaction. It would be' far better to leave the matter as far as naval dispositions are concerned in the hands of the Imperial authorities. If this view is taken the defence question disappears, as well as the commercial, and one of sentiment only is left. The fear is that this is not sufficiently strong to bind the two countries together. If New Zealand were forced, the possibility to be faced is that the Australian Federal States would' be saddling themselves with an Ireland, whose grievances would play in the future a part possibly quite as distracting to Australian political life as the Irish question has in the Imperial Parliament. Such a contingency is certainly nob to be sought after or'viewed with equanimity, and ready as the Australian States would he to welcome New Zealand into tho Confederacy, the partnership I s °niy to be thought of if effected on such terms as would ensure amity in relations from first to last.