FEDERATION COMMISSION

New Zealand Mail, 21 February 1901, Page 37

FEDERATION COMMISSION

CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. The Federation Commission opened here this morning.

G. G. Stead was the first witness examined. He said it would be found that if the colony federated with Australia there would not be the increase in the export trade from this colony that many people expected, as Australia, was producing sufficient for her own requirements. The social legislation of this colony had been, on the whole, for the benefit of the worker, and he thought Giir social legislation would be retarded if we federated. William Reece, Mayor of Christchurch, considered the financial difficulty sufficient to deter the colony from federating. He thought we should wait and see the effect of federation before joining. Hugo Friedlander, wool and grain merchant, Ashburton, considered that New Zealand should remain as she is. and wait and watch the results of federation in Australia.

David Thomas, auctioneer and grain agent, Ashburton, gave evidence to the effect that he was not m favour of federation, as if New Zealand joined it would be running its lieck into a noose from which it could not afterwards withdraw. E. W. Roper also opposed federation, and read two addresses which he had previously delivered on the subject before the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. G. T. Booth, agricultural machinery manufacturer, was in favour of federation on broad, general principles. CHRISTCHURCH, -February 19. The Federation Commission continaed its sittings hr- this morning. Robert Allen, president of the Industrial Association, stated that he was opposed to federation from every standpoint. New Zealand would not be able to compete with Australia in manufactures. William Chrystall, merchant, was also ooposed to federation. " George Henry Blackwell, managing director of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company, opposed federation, and said it would prejudicially affect the colony s wconeii and clothing factories. Robert Ewen MacDougail opposed federation. William Wood, president of the Canterbury Chamber or Commerce, oejected to federation, beomsc it would _~,ve Australian manufacturers a preference over British manufacturers, and as iJritain consumed 92 per cent. of. our products, she should be taken into consideration. Henry Wood, flourinillcr, gave evidence to the effect that federation would be a bad thing for millers, a.s Australian flour would compete on equal terms with South Island products in the North Island. The South Island produced practically all the wheat grown in New Zealand, and could only send wheat to Australia in time of,failure of the crops there through drought. H. F. Wigram, maltster, said that, if the colony did not federate it would probably kill the malting trade in New Zealand.

J. Gould, merchant, considered the farming industry would be greatly benefited by federation. Trade with Australia in oats, barley, potatoes, onions and other produce would be greatly increased, whereas a high protective ’oar’ff would stop trade, except in times of drought. New Zealand standing aJone would bo outweighed by the Commonwealth when a difference of interests arose. He did not think our manufactures would be prejudicially affected by federation. The colony would be as well represented in fhe Federal Parliament as Queensland or Western Australia.

G. Humphreys, merchant,was decidedly opposed to federation. lie considered that Now Zealand and Australia produoed practically the same things. The English market must always rule prices. In two out of every three years Australia could do without our potatoes.

G. S. Jakins, produce merchant, doing business for forty years with Australia, thought it would be ruinous for this colony to stand out of federation so far as the agricultural interests were concerned. With federation the colony could double its exports to Australia. Tasmania alone ooulcl produce all the potatoes required in Australia, if encouraged by a. protective tariff, and other products also could be procured in Australia if necessary. Manfactinfers had nothing to fear, as New Zealand could doubtless get. in case of federation, the same terms as Western Australia, and be allowed to retain its Customs duties for five years, reducing them by 5 per cent per year. It wouul be better to be part of a large nation than an isolated small one. This colony had no reason to distrust the other colonies. The Federal Government would have the right to take 25 per cent, of our Customs, but we had no

reason, to assume that it would do The witness’s examination had not been concluded when the Commission rose for the dav.