NEW ZEALAND AND FEDERATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11505, 18 August 1899, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND AND FEDERATION.

ANOTHER STATEMENT BY THE

PKEMIER,

(Fp.oji Ovv, Ovvx ConBESroxDES'T.)

WELLINGTON, August 17,

In answer to a question as to whether, seeing the great importance of the subject to the agricultural and manufacturing interests, the Government would during this session give the House an opportunity of discussing the advisability of this colony joining the Australian Commonwealth, the Premier said lie was prepared to admit that the question was one of great importance. This caused him to ask members ,iot to form a hasty conclusion, iiml not to talce steps which would force the country to come to a premature decision. There could bo no question of greater importance to the. colony, therefore he had hesitated to allow it to be treated merely ns a matter.for debate. To set apart a day for a discussion would not touch the fringe of (lie subject. Only three or four ppeeeliKs could be made, and the effect on the colony might bo favorable or it might not. It would require a week or more, probably a month, to do the question justice. There were many members who had not yet gone fully into the subject. So as to decide what effect federation would have on New Zealand lie would like members to have matured ideas on the matter before asking them to express an opinion. Ho admitted the gravity of the situation, and the Government were csrefully wi-.tching what was going on. There was no urgent need- for hurry, as Western Australia had not yet passed the Enabling Bill. He did not think Now Zealand had much to gain by joining the federation. In connection, with the .Pacific" cable the Government had requested that Saw' Zealand should be allowed to appoint one of the three representatives on the board, leaving the three Australian colonies concerned to appoint the other two, but objection bad been raised by one of the colonies, and as the Imperial authorities had pointed cut the serious nature of the step proposed the. Government had decided not to insist upon their request. How thu three members were to be appointed by the four colonies he did not know. There was a deadlock at,the present moment. This did not impress him favourably as to the wisdom of putting New Zealand in the hands of the Australian colonies.