AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10360, 15 May 1895, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

, ■—-—:.-» " ■ Press Association—By Telegraph —Copyright. Sydney, May 14. Speaking afc a lecture-on .federation, the Premier, Mr Reid, said that afc the Cbnfer'ence of Premiers -he" announced that he could.not place federation in the forefront df his programme because he had given a distinct pledge to deal with other pressing matters. When these were disposed oi; it was fully intended to tackle federation. . Mblbouene, May 14. The Age considers MrEeid's Budget is a serious obstacle to federation. It binds New 'South Wales to a policy extending beyond the present century and is a direct buffet in theface to federation, which will be killed for the'next 10 years. | His Government's action is the latest' of many indications that the mother colony is insincere in the demand for federation. Mr Kingston's inspiration in concluding an anti-federal pact with New Zealand is another instance of the political hypocrisy underlying a great deal of pretended federal fervour. Federation never had any real hold of the popular mind outside of Victoria, and the other colonies only played with ifc. Portents, seem to point to the fact that federation is not within practical limits, and Victoria's true policy is to abstain from farther efforts to force.it.oh. , Referring to Sir Henry Parkes's long and unstable career, the Age says he is nothing but an opportunist, and will drop either Freetrade or federation if inconvenient to his politics!! interests. •