COLONIAL V. IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1507, 17 January 1901, Page 63

COLONIAL V. IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

(* ; N.Z. Tiroes/' January 9.) The civil and political representatives of this country at the celebrations connected with the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth are comporting themselves with honour and dignity. The fame of New Zealand’s ' Premier as a leader g£ a democratic party has preceded him. Everywhere he is being received by the populace with applause., His utterances are in good:

taste. Mr Seddcn has not in any way committed himself or -this country to becoming a part of an United- Australasia, yet he has shown that the people of New Zealand are rejoicing with the Australians on having realised the high purpose of all their political effort during the past decade. Whether there is to be partial or complete Federation between this country and Australia remains to be seen, but as far as New Zealand is concerned there would always be, Mr Seddon assured the Australians, a federation of blood, and that the peoples of both countries would be so entwined that nothing could ever separate them.

Sir Robert Stout has treated the subject of the relations of New Zealand to United Australia, if not altogether in an academic way, ably and well. He has allowed his prophetic instinct to find expression in alluding tp the dangers that may beset the Commonwealth, and in that way may be said to, have done excellent service. Sir Robert warns the Commonwealth against the withdrawal of able men from State Governments to attend the affairs of the Federal Parliament. It will not do to neg-

lect the internal affairs of the various States, hut there is a danger that in© States themselves will be rent with faddist'-, and a species of parochialism of its worst type will be developed unless the larger concerns of the Commonwealth absorb public attention and develop wider views among the foremost of State politicians. Indeed, Sir Robert Stout realises that, as was the case in this country subsequent to the abolition of the provinces, provincial feeling will exist for years and materially affect the trend of national aims and legislation. Altogether, however, it will be agreed that the federation of our provincial parliaments has been of the utmost importand benefit to the growth and development of this country. Rpt it is improbable that New Zealand will; attempt to establish stronger relations with Australia than those which our 1 commercial and defensive needs prompt. There is a tendency now to facilitate the institution of a reciprocal tariff such as would not militate against the growth of New Zealanclfs industries, while it would enable Australia to obtain from us those commodities she most requires. And we cannot believe that having regard to the annexationist policy already entered upon; the people.of New Zealand will’ be content ...with anything bulKf lairglr in the minds of our leading politlcians-than a union with : Australia. The Premier and the Hon J. G. Ward have recently expressed their views upon this subject, and they are of opinion that there is more to be gained by maintaining this country’s entity and fostering the larger idea of Imperial Federation, with representation on a Council of State in London. This question is not only being discussed in New Zealand, but is being talked about at Home. At a recent gathering of Imperial Federationists at th© London Chamber of Commerce, over which-Lord Bra,ssey presided, the Hon W. P. Reeves, Agent-General, urged upon the consider., alien of those Imperialists present the creation of an Imperial Council representative cr all parts of her Majesty’s dominions to confer and advise the Secretary of State for the Colonies. He knew, he said, of good and important work which .such a body might have done during the last decade. It was possible to have practical, useful representation, continued the Agent-General, in the Imperial Parliament, and yet not to have colonists voting for or against the Government of the day in Great Britain, and, above all, voting on those terrible things, the money Bills. They had got to make a beginning. Why should not a limited number of colonial senators, men of experience and character—some might be peers and some not —be allowed to sit in the House of Lords—allowed to express their opinions, to give the Imperial Government and the British public their views on Imperial questions, either with or without the power to vote? In that way the colonies could plead and state tlieir case at the bar of Imperial public opinion. That plan was not open to any of th© stock objections so constantly urged against having elect, ed colonists sitting and voting in the House of Commons

In speaking thus, Mr Reeves was expressing what is the opinion of most colonists who have given any consideration to this great question. The people of New Zealand are therefore more concerned about federation with Great Britain and the establishment of an Imperial Zollverein with representation on an Imperial Council than they are about federation with Australia.—a union in which our individuality and distinctive characteristics would be obliterated. This would net be conducive to the upbuilding of a nation in these islands. -Some further light may be shed upon the question as the result of the Federation Commission's deliberations ; but at present, with our annexationist policy well in hand, the tendency of New Zea_ landwill be stronger towards Imperial than towards Australasian federation. All that we can hope to obtain is a measure of

tralia, and that may be but a prelude to the establishment of an. Imperial Zollverein on such a basis as will be advantageous to"all parts of the Empire.