THE HON. W. ROLLESTON INTERVIEWED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 11543, 30 November 1900, Page 5

THE HON. W. ROLLESTON INTERVIEWED.

ANGLO-COLONIAL TRADE.

VIEWS ON FEDERATION.

[by TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Thursday. The Hon. W. Rolleston was interviewed last night by a representative of the Post, and gave an interesting account of his trip Home. As he had been 42 years absent from England he expected great changes. The changes he observed were simply marvellous. There was some disappointment that detailed information from New Zealand was so scant, but he was not aware that this circumstance interfered with the rapid extension of trade and general prosperity. The most remarkable change was the tendency of people to leave the country districts and concentrate themselves in the towns and cities. In some matters the colonies were abreast of the Old Country, but the most interesting thing was the trade from New Zealand.

As a producer he naturally took a great interest in the frozen meat trade. He spent some time in watching the way in which it was carried on at the other end. He followed the meat from where it left the barges in the Thames, through Nelson's freezing chambers, and into the markets, and he came to the conclusion that the development of the trade was something marvellous. He sa\v Nelson's meat in the country districts of Derby, in Bath, Drayton, and a number of other places, and the firm showed him their books which proved that the meat was being distributed in every part of the country. Any one going through the markets, Mr. Rollestort remarked, "must realise to a large extent what the position would be if the frozen meat trade did not exist. I was not careful to inquire whether mutton that is sold «is English is New Zealand or not. The .whole of the produce sent Home and more, will be required before the people are properly fed. Provided you have a good supply of good meat the question whether some of it is sold unfairly or not is for the public to judge. I trust implicitly to the enterprise of the producer and the middleman for the adjustment of all minor details." Mr. Rolleston added that in Derby he saw New Zealand lamb for sale as New Zealand lamb, which was comparable to anything the Home supplier could produce. The last subject touched upon was that of federation. " Neither in England nor in Australia, said Mr. Rolleston, "have the details of the Federal proposals, nor what is involved in them, been generally realised by the community at large. lam confident," he went on to say, "that within a very short period the difficulties of the financial position of the Australian colonies in respect to the scheme, will become more and more manifest. As to New Zealand joining the Federation I cannot see any possible reason for this colony involving itself in the experiment. First of all, a scheme in which the Commonwealth and the component States are made participators in a common Customs revenue will lead to great difficulties, and moreover I am strongly of opinion that the interests of the true democracy of the future will not be fostered by a system of centralisation. lam of opinion also that the movement was largely promoted by a desire to " pool" the debts and to ' pool' the borrowing powers of Australia."