FEDERATION WITH AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11533, 19 November 1900, Page 3

FEDERATION WITH AUSTRALIA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Your leader in to-day's Herald ably treats of federation with Australia in its various business aspects and deals with New Zealand's share in the future " mastery of the Pacific." Important questions both, but does not the political fai transcend all other aspects in which federation may be regarded? Till that side has been deliberately and fully considered, surely the question cannot be ripe for inquiry into details by any committee or commission that may be appointed. The control of our destinies is now entirely in our own hands. We are asked to transfer that control to a power in which we shall only too likely find ourselves taking a back seat, and with what Lord Rosebery once aptly styled a " predominant partner." Our tariff, mail services, currency, banking, and, in a great degree immigration, will be at once in the hands of- the Federation. Our Customhouse and ports of entry, Post Office, defence

and other great departments, will no longer be administered in New Zealand, but in Australia, with their heads at the distant Federal capital in New South Wales. Whatever the Constitution may now say we must also never forget that it is liable to change at any time when tho natural tendency in a great Legislature to assert itself may end in a majority j of members to give that tendency effect. Can any possible increase of business atone for the loss of independence and the further risks we are asked to sustain? Australia is a vast country* with great I variety in climate, physical features and pro- , duction. Much is purely tropical, and she ! will have inevitable complications with a i tropical population to face. But all her territory is in a ring fence and a national Australian feeling is certain to grow and to unite her people. New Zealand, on the other hand, is bound to have a homogeneous people, and is separated by 1200 miles of ocean. She can never be thoroughly in touch with the Federal Parliament, nor even with her own representatives when taking their seats in that body or possible places in the Ministry by which tho Government will be administered. Surely these are points for essential and primary consideration. As" to the " mastery of the Pacific," why bother our heads about it at all? The order is a large one, for the United States, Russia, and other Pacific Powers may be expected reasonably to demur. Our true pride, as a free, self-governing people, cannot bo in conquest and domination over others, but in the proper arming, training, and education, the prosperity and content of our own people, and so enable us to preserve for ever the sacred inviolability of our own land, and hold it to the. death against allcomers. Two and forty years ago I left England for New Zealand, and read on the voyage a book of which Mr; Hursthouse was the author. Well written, full of information, and with a considerable circulation, the book was an authority, but has long gono out of print, f recall a passage which may be worth quoting. It ran thus: "New Zealand with her 50,000 is like a puny infant stumbling over straws. Give her 500,000 and her step will be Diana's. Give her 5,000,000 and she will harry China, defy Russia, take toll of Australia's gold beetles, and demand Prince Alfred Ernest Albert Edward for King." So you see we always were an ambitious people— at least have never been without great minded and progressive men among us. Poor Mr. Hursthouse died many years ago. He was before his time.—l am, etc., Frederick J. Moss. Parnell. November 15, 1900.