THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9437, 7 August 1889, Page 6

THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

The weekly meeting of the Progressive League took place at Robson's Rooms on Monday evening last. The President (Mr. White) occupied the chair. The discussion on Imperial Federation was continued. Mr. Pheeney, who had been appointed to open the evening's debate, stated that he looked u|)on the common literature and history of English-speaking nations, the feeling of kinship and blood, as the real i bond of union, and that self-interest is not i so strong a bond as j>eop!e ate disposed to think. One great difficulty he foresaw was the difficulty of deciding what were Imperial and what strictly local matters. Conflicting interests would also be a cause of weakness. Federation would be a great factor in saving us from insult or injury, or from the wanton attacks of any foreign powers. The scattered nature of the Empire might also be considered a bar to federation. He considered that Australasian federation would be a step towards the realisation of the larger and more extensive scheme, besides being more immediately practicable. He also stated that hostile tariffs wouldhave to go before we could dream of federation, and referred briefly to the questions of defence, European complications, etc. Mr. Farriugton thought that free trade beween the colonies would be a great step towards federation. He considered that the scheme should ultimately include America, and expressed his belief that a republican form of government would be the best under such circumstances. Mr. C. T. Renshaw laid special stress on the benefits which would result from free trade, and pointed out how the "protective" tariffs oppress the farmers. Mr Chapman vigorously opposed the idea of " republican federation," and pointed out the corruption and insecurity existing in republican France, and to some extent in the United States of America. Mr. West pointed out various lions in the path, such as conflicting interests, scattered nature of empire, difficulty of choosing centre of government, danger of tightening the bond till it breaks, etc., and considered the idea of a universal federation of the Anglo-Saxon race a mere freak of the imagination. Messrs. Creath, Withy, and others also spoke. The discussicrn will be continued next week.