AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1511, 14 February 1901, Page 48

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION

SYDNEY, February 7

A monster demonstration was held in the Town Hall to-night under the auspices of the Australian Liberal Association. The Mayor presided, and speeches were made by members of the Commonwealth Ministry—Mr E. Barton (Premier), Sir George Turner Mr Deakin (Attorney-General), Mr J. G. Drake (Postmaster-General) and Mr R. E. O'Connor, Minister without portfolio.

The speeches were mainly a re-state-ment of Ministerial policy, and were made as a counterblast to Mi Reid’s recent utterances. Mr Barton said the Federal Ministry would endeavour to reconcile conflicting interests and make an Australian policy for the Australian people. He feared no attacks.

The proceedings were enthusiastic. The Australian Liberal Association is issuing a Federal manifesto, the chief planks of which are : Support to Australian industries, preferential duties in iavour of the British Empire, white man’s Australia, cheap postage, conciliation and arbitration, settlement of disputes extending beyond the limits of one State, and uniform adult suffrage. The manifesto declares that the necessity of raising a large revenue makes both freetrade and a high protective tariff impossible.

SYDNEY, February 8. During his address at the Tcnvn Hall last night, Mr Barton said he was a protectionist, and was not ashamed to say so. Protection must be maintained . on existing industries, and they must; have a revenue tariff and moderate protection. He did not propose to destroy

national industries like the sugar industry. The Federal tariff must not sectional one. He would take caps that one State did not rule ihe roo?.'c —eyery one must have a fair share of ffro w sur-

plus. With regard New Hebrides, Mr Barton Federal Government had already addressed the Imperial Government with reference to recent representations on the matter. There were other external relations, snch as New Guinea, Tonga and Fiji to consider, tie gave an assurance that the Government would endeavour to conserve the interests cf Australia without embarrassing the Empire. The other speeches were in support of the tariff as outlined by Mr Barton, and deprecating setting State against State.

The Federal 'Cabinet will meet to-day, ,o is understood to discuss the Pacific Islands question. The Federal Cabinet held, a long sitting to-day at which a number of important isubjeets were th-se-ussed. It was decided to take over the Postal and Defence Departments on March Ist. The Cabinet ratified Mr Barton’s cable message to Mr Chamberlain with reference to the New Hebrides, and favoured action being taken 'with regard to other Pacific islands. The latter matter will come up for further consideration when the Cabinet meets at the end of the month.

MELBOURNE, February 8.

The reconstruction of the Ministry and (onsequent reduction in the number of Ministers has resulted in a saving of £IOOO annually. When the Defence Department is taken over by the Federal Government there will be a further saving of a similar amount. DUNEDIN, February 8.

The Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Natives’ Association has decided to offer prizes for the best essays on the federation of New 7 Zealand with Australia. The essays are to be in by April 20th.