IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12241, 9 April 1903, Page 5

IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

views OF SIR W. McMillan. Br Telegraph.—Press Association.— (Received April 8, 10.30 p.m.) • London. April 8. Sir William McMillan, of Sydney, addressing the Australian Chamber of Commerce, said the principal qu<=otion of practical politics was how ' o evoke the political union of the three great federated nations—Australia, Canada and South Africa— with an essentially different climate. The union should be elastic enough to allow each a sphere to move freely in its own orbit. Sea-girt Australia was widely different to the others. The difficulty lay in the Australians being a British western people with an Eastern destiny. Their first duty was to secure peaceful industry and trade with the whole world on amicable principles. Therefore c-he Empire ought to pause before putting herself in commercial antagonism with other countries. Political union may result in the most enormous force in the world, but they must not tie the strings too closely. Ha did not favour the suggestion of New Zealand to found a Pacific federation. . The Australian and New Zealand federations might have differences which the Motherland would be unable to adjust. Australia would secure an excellent bargain if she got the benefit of the Imperial navy for double or treble the amount now asked. The idea of an Australian navy was midsummer madness. The exclusion of the hatters had terribly humiliated the Australian Commonwealth. No decent British subject should be excluded. He rejoiced that public opinion had awakened to the rather fast and reckless "•npnditure of the colonies. He regarded the idea that the State must find employment for the people as a most, vicious principle.