FEDERATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11365, 7 May 1900, Page 7

FEDERATION.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,-It would appear from cables received in the last few days thai the Commonwealth Bill of Australia and Tasmania, now before the British Parliament, will he passed unaltered, and that this colony will have lost every opportunity so gracefully hold out to it at the proper time of having a hand in the constitution of the Bill, or, at least, having a proviso inserted to secure a Unit between here and Australia that would guard against such a contingency as the Commonwealth crippling our export trade with Australia. But, thanks to Mr. Seddoti and his Government, this colony may now havo its trado with Australia practically, if not wholly, lost, in tho event of tlio Federal Parliament creating a strong protective tariff against tho outsido world, which is more than likely, in viow of tho preponderance of protectionist delegates to the Convention which framed the Bill. And as you sot forth in your leading article of this morning: "It may bo taken for granted that tho position taken un bv Now Zealand in declining to lake part in the framing of the Bill, and then endeavouring to block it in Bng and, will not strengthen our friends on the other sidei when the Federal tariff is being drawn.up. It is a Rhumo and a disgrace that this colony, more than able to compote with its .neighbours on equal terms, should bo plural in such a false and humiliating position through the want of administrative ability or utter selfishness on tho part of tho Premier and his[responsible Ministers. As you say, Mr. Editor, it is more than likely now that th„ products wo send to particular Australian colonies, where they are not blessed With ft china to and soil such as ours, will be drawn from other parts of Australia more favourably situated when federation is an accomplished fact. However, in spite of the unwise attitude assumed by the Premier and his representative at Home towards the Commonwealth Bill, I-J still boliove that the people of Australia

as a whole have a most friendly feeling towards New Zealand and its people. Therefore, it behoves the Government to bestir and prepare itself for the timo (which 13 apparently near at hand) when the tariff is before the Federal Commonwealth, and endeavour in a conciliatory manner to secure for New Zealand at least an open market, instead of causing unnecessary alarm by trying to work tip a plague scare in this city, and create fat billets for somebody. It is nearly time the Government rose to the true ideal of statesmanship.— am, etc., Feakk O'Suuivan.

May 4, 1900.