THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHREN CROSS. SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1890.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8156, 18 January 1890, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHREN CROSS. SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1890.

The banquet given by the Commissioner for New South Wales in Dunedin seems to have been a success in every point of view. There was an unprecedented gathering of Governors and other distinguished visitors. The speeches were good, and on a higher level than post-prandial orations usually are. Lord Carrington, as Governor of New South Wales, opened by proposing the health of the Governor of New Zealand. Imperial Federation is a happy resource for such occasions, involving no party feeling nor party warfareat all events for the present. /lis Lordship pointed out that he need not, and would not, speak of the international advantages to be derived from Imperial Federation. The consideration of them would rest with the people and Legislatures of the respective colonies and Great Britain. But he had ample scope in the consideration of the benefits that must result to the human race from the existence of so great, powerful, and peace-loving a nation as Avould be formed by the closer federal union of Great Britain and the colonies. He spoke also, and apparently with effect, of the enduring link that such a federation would form between the colonies and the mother country. We agree with all that Lord Carrington said, and [ more could not well have been said on such an occasion. The question of practicability, the balancing of political gains against political losses envolved in such a federation, the loss of our individuality, and the difficulty of devising a workable system, are the obstacles that statesmanship must clear away before what is called Imperial Federation can become a fact. The initial difficulty, how to admit each unit of the Federation on terms of equality with the rest, has yet to be met. In the United States of America this was done by giving to each State, large or small, equal representation in ' the Senate. This has been well called the balance wheel of the American Constitution. No such balance wheel has yet been devised to meet the difficulty in the case of the Imperial Federation, which, as a principle, all would welcome. To federate on any terms of which equality was no* - the essence, could only lead to discontent and future disunion. Mr. Hislop, speaking for the Government, seems to have been fully alive to the difficulties of the position. He stated that the delegates who were to represent New Zealand at the approaching Conference in Melbourne on Colonial Federation would not be prepared to commit New Zealand to any particular course without further consideration. The only course they could commit us to would be for the Government to undertake to submit definite proposals to Parliament, but we take it for granted that no Parliament can or will think of deciding on so momentous an issue without a prior appeal to the people.

Sir Robert Stout's speech verged more closely on local politics. He avoided the larger question of Imperial Federation,.considering probably that it had been already dealt with by previous speakers. His remarks "were confined to Colonial Federation, which he treated in a happy vein, describing it as only to be hoped for after a duo process of " courting." The colonies must learn to understand each other better, and to feel a stronger affection for each otter, before the. Federation that would add so greatly to their power and prosperity can be realised. He, eulogised Victoria for the steadi-

ness with: which she adhered to the desire for colonial Federation, and for so faithfully keeping her promise with respect to the apprpaching Conference. In this we are glad to be able to agree with Sir Robert Stout. But, while entertaining no doubt as to the enormous gain that would result to the continental colonies from Federation, we. hold that the prospects offered to New Zealand by joining them are much less attractive, and require the most careful weighing. Her distance from the seat of Government and centre of Administration, render it as necessary that her equality should be preserved in any union with the colonies, as their equality would be necessary in any larger union with the Mother Country. Of course, in an Australian Union, with an elective Upper House, the difficulty is less than it would be in one with Great Britain. Still, this difficulty must be met at the threshold, and many others that need not be now repeated. Assuredly caution is nearly as much required in thrusting New Zealand into an Australasian Federation as into one in which the whole Empire is concerned. In either case the union, once formed, cannot be broken, and any attempt at secession will be resisted as treason, and put down with a high hand. For these reasons it will be well if New Zealand "hasten slowly." Any step will be irrevocable, and only to be taken after the most careful deliberation and fullest consideration of all the consequences that may follow.