AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

New Zealand Mail, 21 February 1901, Page 21

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

THE NEW ZEALAND COMMISSION. DUNEDIN, February 14. The Rev Curzon Siggers, Vicar of St. Matthew’s, was the first witness examined by the Federation Commission today He said that he had lived in Australia from the Gulf of Carpenteria to the South of Victoria. He had given some attention to the question of federation, and liad considered the Commonwealth; Bill. He was opposed to federation from a national point of view, though the design was good. We were an insular nation, and Australia was a continental nation, and history proved that insular and continental races diverged further and further apart. Therefore history was opposed to the federation of New Zealand with Australia. He was also opposed to a Federal Court of Appeal. The coloured labour problem was a serious drawback to New Zealand joining tli© federation, as was also the law regarding political rights of aboriginals.

John William Milnes, manager of the Phoenix Manufacturing Company, said federation would open no new markets, and would affect them prejudicially by reason of affording extra competition. The conclusion he had formed was that federation might be of advantage only from an international point of view. and that- it was a purely sentimental advantage. James L. Passmore, managing director of the Rope and Twine Company, said t-liat federation would be a great advantage to his business. In the matter of twine, which they regarded as their principal manufacture, they had no duty in their favour just now, whilst they had the heavy duty of £8 a ton against them on the other side. That was about 25 per cent, of the market value of twine, and was prohibitive. With a free market they could compete with the world—even with England. T. W. Kempthorne, managing director of Kempthorne, Prosser and Co., declared himself strongly a federationist He believed federation with Australia would hasten on federation of the Empire.

William Stevenson, manager for Irvine and Stevenson, jam. manufacturers, thought the only advantage to be gained by federation would be commercially. He could not see that New Zealand would gain any 'advantage from federation politically or socially. Frank Oakden, manager of the Milburn Xrime and Cement Company, was of opinion that the loss of our political independence would more than outweigh the commercial advantages to be derived from federation.

The Commission concluded its sitting in Dunedin and proceeds north on Saturday. Twelve witnesses were examined during . the day. Altogether forty witnesses have given evidence, the preponderance being- distinctly against federation. There was little new in today's evidence, the witnesses after lunohi being—Mr R. Hudson, (flour miller) and Mr W. E. Reynolds, both of whom more or less opposed federation. Mr J. R. Scott, produce agent, said -.federation would not affect the dairy produce trade. Messrs John Lethbridge (Dalgety a.nd Co.), J. M. Ritchie (N.M. and A. Company), uid E. B. Cargill, all favoured the colony federating- with Australia.