AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4299, 7 March 1901, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION

VISIT OF A RUSSIAN CRUISER. NO CANADIAN TROOPS AVAILABLE. . MELBOUH N K. March 0. An ini trim I if> n 1 1 u been received that the Czar has ordered tho tirst-da.-s cruiser Gromboi, 12,330 tons. IL-a-tO indicatcd horse-power, to proceed here lo take part in the naval demonstration on the oceassion of the opening of the Federal Parliament. The CTiine.se residents in tho city have offered to erect a national arch. Tho State Ministers have decided to take no personal part in the Federal elections. They have no time to spare for Federal electioneeringThe Canadian Premier (Sir Wilfrid Laurier) lias cabled deploring that lie cannot accede to the request to send troops to the opening of tho Federal Parliament. . 1 Sir Wilfrid also states that his Parliamentary duties will prevent, him from attending, but tho Hon. W. Unlock, Postmaster-General, who will bo accompanied by his son, will represent Canada. DEFENCE OF THE COMMONWEALTH. (Received March. 6, 10.35 p.m.) PERTH, March (5. Sir John Forrest (Federal Defence Minister), referring to (he Federal Defence Act, said it would pul the defences of the .Corninonweallh on a solid fooling. Citizen soldiers would form Hie basis of the forces, and any permanent army' would no as small as was consistently possible with efficiency. THE MILITARY DISPLAY. (Received March C. 10.39 p.mA MELBOURN E, Marcli 6. Jt is expected that about eleven thousand Australian troops and live thousand cadets, will participate in the Commonwealth Parliament celebrations at Melbourne, THE NEW ZEALAND COMMISSION. AUCKLAND, March G. The evidence taken by tho Federation Commission to-day was on the whole adverse to federation so lav as New Zealand is concerned.

Two of the witnesses approved of the idea, but advocated the waiting policy to see bow federated Australia was going to settle its tariff, and the coloured labour and other urgent questions. Representatives.of the boot trade expressed tho opinion (hat boot manufacturing in this colony would be badly crippled, if not killed, by the removal of the protective tariff through federation.

THE THOUSAND MEN PROPOSAL. Sl-KCIAU TO THE “ TIMES.” AUCKLAND, March G. The following are some of the replies of members of Parliament to tho Premier’s memorandum as to the advisability of sending a contingent to represent New Zealand 1 at the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament :

Mr George Fowlds: “Re Australian Commonwealth contingent— (a) I think wo have done about enough in sending contingents to tho Commonwealth ; (b) if one is sent it should not exceed the number sent to Sydney, and should be composed of a similar representation of both races.”

Mr J. H. Withefbrd: “lie the Duke of York at Melbourne, 1 think the colony should ho represented, bu( am opposed to sending 1000 men. lam of opinion that. 250 would be sufficient, which I will heartily support.’ - ’ The Hon O. C.Bowen, M*L.O., who is at present in Auckland with the Federation Commission; replied that as the Commonwealth had made the request, ha thought it should be complied with, but he thought 100 men of both races would be sufficient for a ceremonial ocelision.

Mr J. A. Millar, M.H.R., who is also in Auckland with the Federation Commission, has not yet received his telegram from the Premier, hut he states that his reply would bo against sending a contingent. Mr Lawry concurs in the proposal. DUNEDIN, March G. Mr Barclay sent the following reply to the Premier : —Since Duke of York is earning to New Zealand, I think it would be well to reserve any display we. can make till he comes here. I think there is a feeling amongst the people that expenditure in connection with mere celebrations and festivities is not always of a useful or profitable character, and there have been many celebrations and festivals of late. We have had enough for a time. At all events, 1 think a thousand men is too many to send, and suggest that if it be*clecided to send a contingent at all, the money to be expended should be fixed at, say. £2500 or £3OOO, and take as many men as that sum will allow. There will, of course, ho considerable expense, too, ever the visit of the Duke of York. I do not seo any necessity for sending a contingent at. all, but if one is. sent, a seems quite out of proportion to send half Maoris. Why should Maoris be 50 per cent, of the force? Is it to amuse Melbourne people? ,1 think if 15 or 20 per cent, are Maoris it will be sufficient. Members of the. Legislature cannot certainly be blamed If, supposing the year’s accounts show heavy expenditure of a non-productive character, they ask full explanations a-s to any authorised works unfinished, or not begun, and as to any moneys which had been voted by Parliament but not expended for purposes for which they had been voted. Mr Carucross, M.H.R., wired;—l am strongly of opinion that the show business is being immensely overdone. I do not favour the sending of a contingent to the opening of the Federal Parliament.

Mr T. Mackenzie replied;—The responsibility of the manner in which Now Zealand should be represented at the forthcoming ceremony in Victoria should, 1 think, rest with the Government. They enjoy a knowledge of diplomatic considerations not within the reach of ordinary members of Parliament. In the absence of that information, and relyiijtf on my own common-sense view of the fitness of things, I would certainly send no military cohorts to Australia, but would infinitely prefer to he decently and modestly represented Jiy one of your most courteous and capable Ministers. At the recent demonstration in Sydney New Zealand haw already shown her cordial sympathy with her sisterlaud, and it does appear to me that any further display of militarism would only further foster that great anre-st which appoaars to be now taking possession of so many of our people. Mr E. G. Allen replied:—l think that the colony should be represented by ~00 men at the opening of the Federal Parliamont, tho contingent to be composed of 150 volunteers selected from various parte of tfce colony, and 50 Maoris, all to be of superior physical appearance, members of the. Jubilee and Common--1 wealth inauguration contingents to give

place as far as possible to those who were excluded on those occasions.

The Hon A. Lee-Smith, M.L.0., has wired agreeing with the proposal to send troops, but not being sufficiently ae qnainted with military affairs, did no) fed competent to express a i opinion ato the number that should lie , eid. The Hon G. McLean and Mr Arnold. M.fi.R., arc .absent from Dunedin.

•Mr F. McGuire's reply is as follows: "1 am in favour of contingent being sent, to consist of both races of equal number, not to exceed three hundred men. Mr Barton’s modest recj.uest appears to me a very large order.” Mr A. L. D. Fraser (Napier) telegraphs to the Premier stating that the expense of sending a contingent is imneecssarv and an extravagance that the people should not be called upon to provide for.