THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, AUGUST 24,1899

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11150, 24 August 1899, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, AUGUST 24,1899

On Tuesday last we printed some notes on the subject of federation, which were found lately amongst Sir George Grey's papers. These have been widely read, and have attracted much attention. We are sure that no man's opinion will weigh so heavily with the people of New Zealand 011 such a subject as the opinion of Sir George Grey. He had spent a lifetime in meditating upon the position of these colonies with regard to each other, with regard to the Empire, and to the rest of the world. It was his daily habit to endeavour to foresee events and national tendencies. To so great an extent indeed was this faculty developed, that it impaired his usefulness as a practical statesman, dealing day by day with emergencies us they arose. At the Federation Convention of 1891 the following gentlemen represented New Zealand Sir George Grey, Captain Russell, Sir H. Atkinson. The Ministry of New Zealand was then composed thus:—Mr. Ballance, Mr. Buckley, Mr. W. P. Reeves, Mr. Seddon, Mr. John McKenzie, Mr. Cadman, Mr. J. G. Ward. Ministers were not by any means in favour of federation, and, indeed, they took no steps to afford Parliament an opportunity of discussing the subject, although the three men who had represented the colony at the Convention were in Parliament. On July 29 Mr. G. Hutchison put a question to Ministers as to whether they were willing to give members an opportunity of expressing their views. He referred to a despatch from His Excellency the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in which this passage occurred :

In the opinion of the majority of the people ftf New Zealand, federation with Australia is outside the region of practical politics. The prospect of the consolidation of public debts, and their conversion into a general Commonwealth loan at a reduced rate of intoresl, would alone tempt New Zealand to join.

Mr. Hutchison pointed out that the despatch, with the above-quoted petty passage, must have been sent with the knowledge and assent of the Ministry of the day. However. Ministers then were not quite so inflexible as they are now, and it was arranged that an opportunity should be given for a discussion. It was known that Sir George Grey was desirous of speaking on the whole subject, and that Captain Russell would also address the House, On August 3, Sir George Grey made one of the most elaborate and careful speeches which he ever addressed to Parliament. Indeed, it may be taken as his last set utterance to the people of New Zealand, and at the present time it is of great importance. The resolutions which Sir George Grey proposed were as follows : —

1. That a form of federation shall bo adopted which will onablo adjacent British colonics to federate for their common welfare, such federation to bo validated, if necessary, by an Act of the British Parliament. i. that a system of federation should also bo adopted to enable all parts of the British umpire to join in a common federation, while each retained its own autonomy. 3. That treaties should be ooncluded between English-speaking nations for a defensive alliance, and for remitting all differences and matters of common interest to a general conference, composed of delegates from each of the contracting parties, who shall each agree to take within its own jurisdiction all measures necessary to give effect to the decision of the general conference.

These resolutions, it will be seen, are drawn with great prescience, and, in reality, cover the whole question. They give scope for the discussion of every particular and every interest that can be connected with the subject. Sir George Grey provides for everything. The federation which he is willing to go into is to be such as shall enable each colony to retain a large amount of self-government. The federation is to be validated by an Act of the British Parliament. It is also to be so constructed that under it treaties may be made for alliance with the United States. A question might have arisen in Sir George Grey's mind as to whether the Federal Constitution, adopted by the Australian colonies, does not unduly curtail our power of autonomy, but

obviously ho would not have objected to New Zealand joining in the federation now proposed, on any ground of principle. Sir George Grey made a long speech before putting his resolutions before the House, and he was followed by Captain Russell. The Hon. Mr. Ballance, who was then Premier, took up the subject, and pronounced definitely against federation, one of the principal grounds being that the colony was not then in such a condition financially as \o enable it to entertain the subject. While Mr. Ballance was speaking, the House was counted out, probably by arrangement with the Premier.

Coming back to the speech of Sir George Grey, it is surprising to read it now, and to mark the vast amount of foresight which it displays. There is no single point left untouched. We quote a passage: — Now, considering all theso points, I confess I am in doubt as to whether it would be better to federate with Australasia or not. But I am certain that the objeotions which have recently been made to it that I liaVo heard are not of very much validity, of that I feci confident. To federate with Australasia would hold out many ad vantages. In the first plnco, freelrnde between New Zoaland and the Australian colonies would give to the whole of this part of the world a commercial lift which you can hardly conceive the value of. I firmly believe that both colonies would go fast ahead. Just remember our isolated position in the world. Wo have no nations to the south of us; the whole of that immense part of the globe is unoccupied; we havo no one to trade with in our immediate vicinity. But each of these two countries produces exactly what the other requires, and the populations are increasing rapidly; and I say that the traffic of four millions of people—of four millions of people with one another— produce mercantile wealth, the importance of which you can hardly estimate, . . , These facts all furnish strong arguments in my mind, in favour of union upon proper terms. But I cannot say yet that I have fully made up my mind upon the subject.

Notwithstanding this latter declaration, the course of Sir George Grey's argument is entirely in favour of federation. It is quite certain that his mind underwent a change on the subject. Some time previously to his going to Australia, he had spoken in Auckland, and he then intimated that he thought New Zealand should form a separate federation, and should have associated with it some of the Pacific Islands. But further consideration, and discussion in Australia, induced him to take up the position stated above. It must be admitted that the consummation of federation in Australia has taken us all somewhat by surprise. r l.-e proposal was more widely discussed in 1891 than it has been since. We have been so busily engaged with labour legislation that we have scarcely been able to look at what was passing under our eyes.