THE COMMONWEALTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13180, 13 January 1905, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH.

(Fnou oor .Own Cor respondent.) WELLINGTON, January 12.

Speaking to a Times interviewer on the subject of federation, Mr Henry Gullett, tho well-known Australian journalist, said: " Any stranger going, to Australia and seeking to discover tlio feeling of the people of tho various States upon this subject would inevitably arrive at the conclusion thafc'a very widespread feeling of, dissatisfaction existed in regard to thojrpsults of federation. Tho people seem to hold the view (hat the results which were expected havo not been realised, but that, on tho oilier hand, .m - - (uiii consequences liavc Leon produced which aro positively mischievous. This Jceling, I think, is explained by the fact that the results have been looked for long-before it is reasonably, possible .that they can bo obtained. lioforo federation tho States wcro working under entirely different conditions. Sonio of them wenv divided by hostile interests and 1 lie keen rivalry of trade, and now they arc all expected to work in amity and harmony. Surely it is too much to hope that this end will be accomplished in a day., In many eases a direct contrariety of interests exists between .States by reason of trade rivalries, and this, of coiirse, remains unaffected by federation. The disappointment of which 1 havo spoken largely refers to political matters, but even in that .sphere of work it seems to me tho results have been expected, to accrue long before tho time at which they could naturally 'bo accomplished. Tho States have to learn to work in. harmony, and that' happy condition of things cannot bo attained in a. moment, it is of comparatively slow growth, and requires some time for its development, One often lican people in Australia say that if the question were to be voted upon again federation would not be carried; but pcoplo who talk in that way, it appears to mo, are misreading the facts. The States have arrived at, a certain stage in their history when they.arc. suddenly called upon to solve in ono way a lot of questions whioh previously tlicy had treated in their own diverse ways. It is natural that this'should lead to differences nud disputes in the first year or two. Some time, as f say, must elapse before the Stales will lie able lo adjust themselves to tho new condition of things and work harmoniously together. It is somelimcs said that . married pcoplo quarrel more in the first, year of their life together than at any later period, and it may be tTiat. the Australian Slates are now at tho stage of their chicf share of quarrelling and disputing. Altogether, I do not think tlioro i 3 any ground for dissatisfaction concerning federation, except in such directions as might certainly have been expected. You know, the stauncliest advocates of federation told the people over and over again: 'Ton must remember in voting for this that when it becomes an accomplished fact you will find that, however well it may work, it is bound to cause a certain amount of wrangling until tho pcoplo have become accustomed to the new conditions.'"