THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1890.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8359, 12 September 1890, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1890.

It was stated that the rejection of the resolutions first proposed by the Government for the representation of the colony at the forthcoming Federation Convention was largely owing to the mischiefs which were seen to have arisen from the federation of the labour unions. It was reasoned that as this had led New Zealand into enormous trouble, it would bo better to stand clear of further federation. There is not much analogy between the blind way in which the labour organisations sold their freedom, and became involved in a quarrel in which they had no part, and a federation of States which would be carefully defined. It would be a pity not to send representatives to a convention, for although we cannot see at present how federation is to be carried out, even between the colonies on the Australian continent, still it is well that New Zealand should not at the present time declare itself entirely "oft'. ,. The Australian colonies make I all allowance for the position of New Zealand; they are willing that at the present time we should stand aside if we think fit; but apparently the leading men on the other side were somewhat chagrined at the prospect of our resolving that it was ! not worth our while to I'espond to the invitation sent. It is indeed of importance that this colony should be represented, because if a Federal Constitution is framed, it is well that it should be so arranged that New Zealand may join at a future time. Our commerce with the colonies of Victoria and New South Wales is very great, and doubtless will steadily increase. It would be well for us to be able to promote this in every way possible. Putting the mother country aside, Victoria and New South Wales take from this colony twice as much as the rest of the world put together. The last issue of the New Zealand Trades Review has put together the colonial trade statistics in convenient form for comparison. The following were the total imports into New Zealand : - From New South Wales, 1888, £428,263 ; 1889, £492,682. From Victoria, 1888, £705,631 ; 1889, £532,609. There was thus, it will be seen, an increase last year, so far as New South Wales was concerned, but a decrease in tlie imports from Victoria. It must be rememibered, however, that a very large part of the imports, especially from Victoria, consist of articles not the product of the colony, but reexports or goods sent in that way for want' of direct opportunity. For instance, from Victoria in 1888, we had haberdashery to the value of £24,580; rice, £15,476 ; tea, £46,285. The imports of specie were heavy. From Victoria we had in the above-mentioned

years £365,070, and £210,085; from New South Wales £140,400, and £110,000. Indeed, looking at the Victorian figures, it would seem that we do not receive much of the actual product of the colony. From New South Wales we took in 1888 £95,814 of coal, and in 1889 £H2,906's worth. Turning to the exports from New Zealand to these colonies, we find that almost the whole amount is composed of the products of the colony. The totals of the trade were :— To Victoria, 1888, £704,420: 1889, £826,828. To New South Wales, 1888, £686,320; 1889, £1,069,196'. The principal exports to New South Wales last year were : —Hran and pollard, £31,757 ; butter, £44,449 ; flour, £121,931 ; gold, £63,231 ; oats, £116,741 ; wheat, £225,844; potatoes, £76,511; sugar, £40,181 (mainly, we presume, from the Sugarworks at Auckland); timber, £66,036 ; woollen piece goods, £22,458. The main items in the exports to Victoria were : —Gold, £258,385; barley, £58,870; oats, £213,582 ; hides, £32,060; timber, £70.202. It will thus be seen that our trade with these colonies is exceedingly valuable, and is of such a nature as greatly to promote production here. We cannot think that, in any case, they would make their tariffs less favourable to us than they now are. Still, it is of importance that this colony should be represented at any Convention to discuss federation.