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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8355, 8 September 1890, Page 4

Parliament employed itself 011 Saturday in discussing the subject of Federation, which was brought up on a motion of Captain Russell, the Colonial Secretary, to appoint delegates to represent New Zealand at the forthcoming Federal Convention of the colonies of Australasia. At the Conference held some time since, this colony was represented by Sir John Hall and the Hon. Captain Russell. The former is not a member of the Ministry, but he has been connected with politics since the commencement of the colony, and has been a member of several Ministries. Captain Russell, the Colonial Secretary, is also an old colonist, and he is intimately acquainted with the people and the circumstances of New Zealand. The position which these gentlemen took on behalf of the colony was that at present New Zealand could not see its way to pledging itself to join the Australian colonies in a Federation, but they desired to show a friendly feeling, and wished the matter left open so that New Zealand could come in at some future time The Australian delegates conceded that such a position was perfectly tenable, and were most friendly in their expressions towards New Zealand. We do not think that it will be possible to go further than this at the approaching Convention. The subject of Federation has been elaborately discussed in the colony, but it can scarcely be said that it has yet become a practical question, or that the issues are well defined. The Australian colonics are indeed far from having got over the difficulties in the way. The question of tariff's will be a formidable obstacle. New South Wales has a Free - trade Tariff, while Victoria is strictly Protectionist. As for New Zealand, it may be said to have a Protectionist tariff, with a Free-trade theory. It seems tousthatit would be absurdand impossible to have what would be termed a Federation between colonies which at the same time have hostile tariffs, and when a traveller passing from one to the other has his luggage searched for contraband articles, as if he were going from one hostile country to another. An idea held by certain parties anxious to constitute a Federation is, that the basis should be a Freetrade arrangement amongst the members of the Federation, while a strong Protectionist tariff' should be adopted towards all the rest of the world. In all the colonies there is a large and important party who would strongly oppose the adoption of such a basis, and who would want to know the reason why we should boycott Great Britain, our mother country, which is such a good customer to us in taking nearly the whole of our exports. The Colonial Secretary said 011 Saturday that it would be to the advantage of the colony to enter into no alliance which would compel us to put I prohibitive duties on goods imported from Europe, and that Imperial Federation is more valuable than any other federation. Sir George Grey and Mr. Ballance have been proposed to take part in the representation of this colony at the Convention. The former has a lengthened experience as a statesman, and he has given long consideration to the positions of the colonies and their relations with the mother country. Mr. Ballance is leader of the Opposition, and he also has carefully considered the question. It is doubtful, however, whether either of these gentlemen will accept the position. Altogether, the subject of Colonial Federation is, so far as this colony is concerned, very much in the debating society stage, and no practical action is likely to be taken for some time to come. The discussion in the House was adjourned till to-day.