NEW ZEALAND AND FEDERATION. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11506, 19 August 1899, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AND FEDERATION. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l am pleased to see your leading article on the above subject, which is one of very gieat importance to this country. I have very little confidence in a reciprocal tieaty being arranged. We will find that the Commonwealth will at once protect themselves against all outsiders, nor can we blame them for it. If we, as a country, will not bear nny portion of the expense of"foucdins the federation, and will not join while we have the opportunily, we must be content to abide by the consequences, and we cannot expect Iheui to favour us against their own industries. What we as a colony need is intercolonial freetrade. That cannot now be got without joining the Commonwealth, but T fear that the people" generally will not recognise this until the open door is closed. When they find that a duty is put on our'produce, then they wiL awaken too late to the startling fact, and the cry will arise, " Why did we not join the Commonwealth?" ' You say that one of the difficulties will be to get suitable representatives. Is not that the trouble now in our own Legislative Assemblies? But when the time and the occasion come, I believe the proper men will be forthcoming. ■ Nobody I think wants to force federation on the people, but nevertheless it ought to be very seriously discussed and considered, and bur representatives in Parliament are the men to whom we should look to lead in this matter. It is their duty to discuss it in all its bearings, and I am at a loss to understand why Mr Seddon should refuEe to have it properly discussed in the House. The off-hand style in which he treats it seems to indicate that lie does not" grasp .the real .seriousness of the question; nor how vitally.it affects the welfare of New Zealand. , Objection has been made on the score of expense, but I do not think we can possibly bo more expensively governed than wo are at present. On the other hand, I believe that o-reater economy and efficiency will be the outcome of our joining the largo and lmnortant Commonwealth of Australasia.—l am, etc Unity.