FEDERATION COMMISSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4288, 22 February 1901, Page 5

FEDERATION COMMISSION.

FURTHER CANTERBURY EVIDENCE. PEESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, February 20. The Federation Commission continued its sittings to-day. . G. S- Jakins. was under .examination again fpr the greater part of the morning, his evidence being in favour of federation. r Sir JohiJ Hall, who was next called, repeated a previous argument used by him, that tho sea prevented twelve hundred reasons why New Zealand should not federate with Australia. A. W. Beaven, of the firm of Andrews and Beaven, strongly supported New Zealand Joining the Commonwealth as a means of distribution of another two million pounds among our small farmers If possible, New Zealand should try and get in on the same terms as West Australia. , , John Scott Meyers, farmer, did not thing federation would pay. As a grower of oftions ho did not think his trade would bo ruined unless the colony Joined tho federation, and he did not think the small-farmers generally would suffer. . - J. A- McCulloch, tinsmith, represent ing tho Trades 'and Labour Council, read a resolution passetT by that body, to tho effect that federation was not desirable in the interests of the workers. James Young, bootmaker, coincided with the last witness. A. E. G. Rhodes, barrister, thought that producers of oats and roots would suffer if tho colony stood out. Agriculturists generally would also suffer, as well as persons in the milling industry. Walter Newton, upholsterer, thought the loss of tho whole Australian trade would not affect the colony much. His trade was strongly opposed to federation, a s Sydney could send out furniture made by Chinese, who worked seventy hours a week for twenty-five shillings. Under federation this colony would be at the mercy of Chinese. At nresent a good deal of this furniture came here, and under froetrade tho results would be simply disastrous. He was also opposed to federation politically. . John Lee Scott, engineer, considered that federation would ultimately be for the good of this colony. In his opinion New Zealand was destined to become a great manufacturing; country. It had coal, minerals and water power in abundance, while, its labourers were superior to those of Australia. The superior productive power per man would more than balance tho difference in wages. It must benefit the colony to have such a laige market as Australia. It would be seU fish to refuse to Join, and this colony “liquid try to leaven- the whole Commonwealth with better labour conditions. Australia was already lobowing Now Zealand’s lead', and this colony would not bo dragged back. CHRISTCHURCH, February 21. At to-day’s sitting of Urn Federation Commission, G. H. Whit combe, of Messrs Whitcombe and gave evidence. He. opposed federation, as it would necessitate New Zealand puolisbers publishing in the commercial capital of the Commonwealth. J. A. FrosMck, president of the Federated Boot Manufacturers’ Association, staled that federation would practically Mean annihilation of the New Zealand boot manufacturing industry, owing to the greater specialisation of work in Australia. Henry Overton, farmer, considered it would lie a grand thing from a farmers point of view if New Zealand federated. The day was not far distant when this colony'would have to draw on the 1 merino Hocks in Australia for breed- ■ ing ewes. ■ 1 Charles Arthur Lees, grain merchant,

"" - j believed that New Zealand had even" thing to gain and nothing to lose by fG< Gcorgo S ßovTou, tanner and leather merchant, considered that federation under .present conditions would wipa out three-fourths of the colony’s manufacturing business, unless a proviso were . inserted in Um Commonwealth Act that the awards of the New Zealand Arbitration Court should apply to the whole federation. All being equal, this colony oould compete with \uttralia. Australian wages would, no doubt, reach tho standard of this oolouv in vears to come, but m the meantime* this colony’s busmess would bo rained. Sis firm used £175,000 worth of hides and pelts per annum, ami a large export was done m taW sheepskins to America Other leather was sent all over tbo 0010 l 01 Mr Williams, operative bootmaker, held that with higher wages and shortor hours, this colony could not compete with the huge specialised factories in Australia. Ho did not think that if we federated Australia would adopt this colony’s conditions of la ™"£ .• William Darlow, another bootmaker, preferred that. New Zealand should stand out. Andrew Anderson, u'onfounder, emnloving 260 hands, did not tninK ms trade would be affected by federation Nothing would he lost, by delay, and to rush into federation at the piesent time would bo dangerous. John Fisher., operative bootmaker, thought that trade interests called upon the colony to stand out. , F. Heaven, soap and candle-maker, said the caudle industry would bo knocked on tho head if there was federation, but in soap this colony <-ouhi hold its own. He would much athoc tho colony did not sacrifice it* indonAlbcrt Kayo, grain and produce mer* chant, was in favour cf federation on the whole. Now Zealand would benefit eventually, if not immediately, from being in close touch with tho large .-nd increasing population of Australia. Some manufactures would doubtless suffer .severely, but ho thought that m ten years labour conditions would equalised all over the Commonwealth. The revenue oould bo made up without difficulty, and tbo intervening sea would bo a. meads of communication rather than a barrier. There was a continental feeling in Australia mto which this colony did not enter, but (hat would not he injurious to tins co r lony politically. Ho advocated tow-m-ocity in preference to but he did not think New Zealand had any chance of obtaining such a treaty. Australia would wish to send hero wine, sugar, salt, olive oil and other articles, but nob enough' to balance what this colony wished to send there. This closed the sitting. MEETING OF FARMERS i

CHRISTCHURCH, February 30. \t a poorly attended meeting of farmi ers to-dav, called by tho A. and P. , Association, to discuss federation, the following resolution was carried:— that the various Agricultural and Pastoral Associations throughout Canterbury should bo requested to convene meetings of farmers with a view to the discussion of the question of federation, and tho appointing of delegates to attend a central meeting to ho held during March.

WANGANUI, February 21. The “Herald” suggests that when the census is being taken a referendum should also bo taken on tho question of Now •Zealand Joining the C o ™™?* l ' wealth, and points out chat nothing could be easier, simpler and more inexpensive than this method of obtain ing' the verdict of tho adult population. Federation ballot-papers could be attached and distributed with the census papers. -