NEW ZEALAND’S FEDERATION WITH AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 931, 3 January 1890, Page 24

NEW ZEALAND’S FEDERATION WITH AUSTRALIA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL. Sib, —The question of New Zealand’s Federation with Australia has been one which has occupied my thoughts for some years past. For many weighty reasons I am inclined to think, sir, that it will be best for New Zealand to join with the other Australian colonies, and not to play a “lone hand.” The peace of the high seas in this part of the globe can best be preserved, in my opinion, by a powerful confederation, and not by disunited action. Such, I presume, will be our chief reason for joining with the other colonies, viz., defence purposes. Our Federation then would be a maritime one for the preservation of peace upon the high seas. Looking back through history, I think I may say that the precedents furnished by Greece, Rome, and England favour a powerful confederation. The disunion existing at one time in the Grecian States was very lamentable. Rome, when at the height of her power, federated the whole of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. • England (which may be taken now to be at the height of its power) is least able to preserve the peace of the high seas, and is most respected because of so many groups of colonies being practically federated under her flag. I can see little good, therefore, in the face of these great precedents, for New Zealand to attempt to play a loue hand, and hold herself aloof from a Maritime Federation with the other Australasian colonies. I was formerly, as you are doubtless aware, muA interested in South Sea Island questions, and I could not help then noticing how much the solution of those questions depended upon Australasian unity. The merchants of Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand were equally interested, were brothers-in-arms in fact, in opening up and developing the resources of these dependent groups of valuable islands. Similarly, we are all equally interested in stopping the deportation of French convicts to New Caledonia. Our Maritime Federation must therefore evenually include Western and Central Polynesia. Fiji, I suppose, will join the Federation immediately. The trouble to which our master mariners are often placed in complying with French regulations in New Caledonia is very absurd. The future development of New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, the Solomons, Santa Cruz, the New. Hebrides, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, depends upon Australasian unity. All these are most valuable groups of islands, whose trade is bound to flow through Australasian channels. I have long been convinced that it is no use whatever for New Zea- ) land tp try a,nd play a lone hand in regard to this trada. In questions affecting Chinese im.nigpajtioii and Chinese trade, it will be far better if the Australasian colonies act unitedly. In Indian trade and that of the Malay Archipelago (Java, Sumatra, etc.) , also the Philippines, Australasian rnerchanfcs buy sugar and export horses and dairy produce almost as a joint concern. In times of trouble it will be better if we have one flag covering our trade in this part of the world, which all nations can readily know and respect, than for New Zealand to fly a separate flag from a few stray master Not that I for one moment

doubt New Zealand’s future power to battle bravely for its own flag, or to make its own home flag respected within the Australasian maritime confederation, for that we shall always be able to do ; but rather would I wish to see one powerful Australasian flag flying over all our trade in these waters. And so long as 1 live I hope to see this Australasian flagfly beneath thegood old British ensign. New Zealand’s wool, gold, and farm and dairy produce will most safely reach the European markets if these two flags fly together. With respect to internal Australian questions, these are a matter for arrangement. We may develop our own territories the better by agreeing to differ. It may be that free trade with each other will best be aided under a maritime confederation than for *New Zealand or Tasmania to stand apart. But in criminal and civil procedure in our Law Courts it is evident that we should act unitedly. We speak one language; we are all subjects of the same good Queen ; our lines of development are all upon one plane ; we desire to preserve Australasia for the Anglo-Saxon race ; we wish to exclude the hordes from China and the convicts from France. For all these reasons, Sir, from the precedents of history, and for our future good, I venture to advise New Zealand ,to join with our sister colonies in a federation for defence purposes. We shall not pledge ourselves too far by so joining in, and we can make the federation a still more close one should the future demand it. 1 further feel convinced that the constitution of the Federal Council will be such that no attempt will be made to interfere with our domestic affairs. If such an attempt ever should, be made the precedents of history show how easily two such islands as New Zealand can resume their independent right of action. It is because I am fully aware of New Zealand’s future power that I venture to say “ Let us throw in our present lot with our sister colonies ” in all matters affecting our foreign communications, which, of course, includes defence.—l am, &c., Coleman Phillips. Dry River, December 24.