FEDERAL DEVELOPMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4316, 27 March 1901, Page 4

FEDERAL DEVELOPMENTS

The continued friendliness towards New Zealand of the loading federalists of Australia is gratifying, as well as flattering. It is not a spasm which seizes! them for a minute, and is felt no more. Rather is it an abiding feeling, as the .reception our Royal Commission is getting in Australia naturally leads one to conclude. When the Premier of tho Commonwealth is present, he speaks for the rest; when he is absent, tho rest speak for themselves j and the burden of tbeir song is ever the same. They are unanimous in declaring their overmastering desire to see us making common cause with them. Let nothing, says Mr Barton, prevent a United Aus-

tralasia. According to Mr Barton’s lieutenant, Mr O’Connor, who is backed up by Mr See, loader of the local State politicians, on the Government side. Australia is certainly not disposed to penalise New Zealand Cor any delay there may he in coming into the Commonwealth. Wo shall have, if their assurances count for anything, the same terms as any of the original States, whenever we like to join. Mr Barton went further, and, as will lie seen from the report of the special correspondent of the Auckland '‘Star,” spoke cf “the most liberal terms,” rs the certain tiling for us to count upon. This is genuine cordiality, high appreciation and sincere readiness to be closely united with, us for all time. It

is impossible to think of it without a. wanning of the heart and a higher beat of the pulse. But, though the Australians are unanimous in their goodwill toward New Zealand, they are not- all of the same mind as to the future basis of our mutual friendships A' prominent -Sydney journal hAv seized the occasion to point out’ that, much as-they like us, there are many Australians who do not see any need for our joining them politically, and are not interested-in the question when'it is brought practically before them. There is a lack of interest,. if : this authority is correct in his diagnosis j 1 of the public opinion* which he cer- :

tainly ought to understand, ion tho part \ of Australia in the doings of our Cou.misacn. "While the federal leaders and' semo others make tkc most earnest efforts to induce us to join them, a substantial section of their countrymen display considerable apathy in tho matter. It may bo as well to remark, in passing, that, this locks not unlike a foreshadow, of what would happen d this comparatively small'country were to join the groat Australian Commonwealth. The reflection is scarcely comfortable. Much better is the explanation made by the journalistic critic that this lack of interest proceeds from -no lack of affection. It is ; on the contrary, accompanied by a desire to make terms of commercial reciprocity wi,.. us the only possible tonus, no declares—and with an appreciation of our status, with sympathy for our “noble aspirations,” and a cordial wish for the , brilliant fulfilment of our destiny. Tim i delicacy of this is as refreshing as it was i unexpected. Tho future it opens cut is j one of dignified friendship, in obedij M i.cc both to the distance that forbids j closer union and to the flag that binds j us together in tho sheaf of Empire. 1 Hero is a “modus viveudi” which is

non now suggested for tho first time. It is the first time, however, that tho suggestion has come from the Australian side. When first proposed by Now Zealanders, tho Australian reply was that it was impossible. The only possible thing,' the Australians said, was tho Commonwealth partnership. Moreover, they- added that there wa« no escape from that partnership. The two countries were drifting together; the circumstances of their life, and the tendencies of their positions, were helping tho drift; no one, they added, can bo stronger than destiny. The graceful sentiments of tho Sydney journal quoted show that there may now he many people in Australia who recognise the truth, a) it was from tho first recognised in New Zealand. They sea with ns that we may join them one day, or wo may not, hut that if we do, it will not he by the blind compulsion of circumstances, Dor by the ■ uncharted current, of tendencies. Junction ' with the Commonwealth, if it ever comes about, will he the result of a careful weighing of all the very weighty considerations surrounding this most important matter. For the present wo can leave that matter in the hands of tho Commission, in tho full knowledge, that, should our decision eventually he to work out our destiny on our own lines, we shall forfeit neither the good opinion nor the close sympathy of our Australian brethren. and shall still have the privilege of trading with them on lines of mutual benefit.