AUSTRALASIAN FEDERATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1898, 19 June 1890, Page 11

AUSTRALASIAN FEDERATION.

MR JT. G. WARD, M.H.R. , SHOWS ITS

ADVANTAGES TO THIS COLONY.

Mr J. G. Ward, M.H.R. for Awarua, who is an ardent advocate of Australasian Federation, delivered a special address to his constituents on the question at South Inveffcargill on the evening of the 9th inst. There were over 100 persons present, and the Mayor occupied the chair. We make the following extracts from the report of the meeting which appeared in the Southland Nowb :—

He would look at the cfueation from a number of aspects, and would first of all ask his hearers to consider what would bo the position of New Zealand IF THE OTHER COLONIES FEDERATED AND LEFT

Our neighbours on the other side were of the name race as ourselves, their institutions and commercial undertakings W9re similar to our own, and their Parliament, with the exception of that of Western Australia, were of the same character. Each colony possessed a fiscal policy efuiled to its own interests and speoial circumstances, and they all knew the way in which tboso fiscal policies were operating on the trade of each colony. There was virtually a war of tariffs going on The opponents of Federation put the matter in this way : " Instead of federating, instead of giving up our privileges, let us remain indei endent, and go in for a Customs union, aad have INTERCOLONIAL FBEETHADE ; let us build up a great nation that shall become ' mistress of the Southern Seas." That was the sort of language used towards those who were anxious to see an Australasian Dominion formed. It would no doubt be an extremely fine thing for New Zealand if we could get intercolonial Freetrade, and allow the other colonies to federate without us, but could tbe Huppoßed for one moment that the people of Australia, having taken that Rtep, would be so foolish, bo forgetful of their own interests, ao to allow us, who elected, when invitrd to join the movement, to remain outside, to take advantage of tbo almost inestimable benefits that would follow from unrestricted intercourse* with the colonies as a whole ? He was much inclined to think that anyone who supposed that a splendid future would be opened up to this colony by the libarality of the others would find himself egregiously mistaken. Having pointed out to the meeting what the nature of the advocacy was of those who were opposed to the federal movement he .would proceed, he said, to inquire as to what would follow the establishment of an Australian dominion. Just as sure as the stars were shining in the heavens that night the bringing into existence of such a dominion would msan that the colonies forming part of it would adopt -

AN ALMOST PROHIBITIVE TARIFF

against the world, including, of course, New Zealand if it were not one of them. There waa no use for him to go into elaborate arguments to prove this. At the present moment six out of the seven colonies wero out and-out .Protectionists. Was if; reasonable, ho asked, to suppose that if the Australian colonies, excluding Now Zealand, united, five would agree to reverse tho policy they had found to bo the desire of the people so as to agree with New South Wales. Most certainly not ; the result would unquestionably be that within a few years they would adopt a high protactive tariff against the world, and wbat position would New Zealand be in if that event came about ? He ventured to say its position would be an extremely bad one ; that it would be a most retrogi-sssive step if when Federation came New Zealand should stand out of it. People were apt to say that they ought to

LOOK TO ENGLAND AND EUBOPE to build up the commerce of the colony. He agreed that such was the case, but he added that they should not overlook the important commercial relations they bad had with the other colonies. To give his hearers some idea of what tbe trade of these other colonies meant to New Zealand he would give them a few statistics and then ask them if anyone who had the interests of this colony at heart could say that it was not highly desirable to retain the trade. The

VALUES OF THE EXPORTS AND IMPORTS to and from the Australian colonies durinp the past year were : — Viotoria : Imports, £532,G05) ; exports, £826,828 ; surplus of oxportß over imports, £294,219. Now South Wales : Imports, £492,682 ; exports, £1,069,196 ; surplus, £576,514 Queensland : Import*, £19,167 ; exports. £136,503; surplus, £117,336, South Australia : Import", £20,980 ; oxportn, £49,114; surplus £28,154. Western Australia : Imports, nil • exports, £4476 ; purplus, £4476. Tasmania : Imports : £41,694 ; exports, £59,554; surplus, £17,860. Tho total imports thu« had been £1,107,132, the total exports £2,145,671, and the total surplus £1,038,539, He would ask anyone who recognised the value those figures represented whether it was not a matter of considerable importance to endeavour to extend tbe trade rather than, by keeping back from the Federation movement, to do that which was calculated to contract it If New Zealand went in for this movement was it likely she would lose any of her trade with Europe — the question of her trade with America did not require particular consideration ?

THE PRINCIPAL EXPORTS

to England and Europe wore wool, wheat, and frozen meat, but it was with raspoct to the first and the laßt. that the paople of this country had now much interest. He believed that if anyone would go into the history of the wheat business for the last few years bo would find that those who had continued in it had met with disaster. Tho trado in pram with Europe had been so extremely poor that those pngagod in it now preferred to* seek marketß in Australia. So far as England was concerned what this country had to keep in view was its trade

in wool and frozen meat, and so far as Australia waa concerned its trade in grain, &c. His hearers would be aware that the only frozen meat they oould export auccassfully was mutton. There was no reason why we should not send our bullookß to Australia, and it seemed clear to him that the export of bullocks would be injuriiußly affected if the trade with Australia in other produots were restricted. Those who were conversant with the olass of products sent to the Australian colonies could not possibly hope to find a profitable market for them in Europe, experience having shown that grain and other produce frequently reached there from here in such a condition as to command but a very poor return. He therefore Baid that while they could continue to send to Europe the same class of products as they now sent, they should not take a step which was likely to close the markets they had in Australia for their other products. It was stated that if they were to federate they would bring into opposition the

LABOURERS OF THE OTHEB COLONIES with those of this, thereby injuring the people of New Zealand. He thought this was a mistaken opinion. In the first place it would be admitted that the land was the source of all wealth, that if it were not properly utilised then, in the ordinary course of events, other avocations must be injuriously affected. No one could pretend to say that other employment could long continue to be profitably followed, that factories could be properly worked or could employ so many men, that all men, even in the most busy times, could find full employment if the land were not successfully and extensively cultivated. Then it followed that' if they could succeed in having the lands of this country remuneratively employed, at least so that the tillers of the soil would have their work properly rewarded, the effeot would be a greater return for their labour. If instead of a population of 600.000 they had one of 4,000,000 to supply with tho requirements of life the output of the faotories would largely increase, and with it the demand for labour, so that with a federal dominion he firmly believed the factories of this colony would not be in a position before many years were over to meet the demnnds of the people owing to the increase. Another result of the increase of population would be the settlement and remunerative working of our lands, and if anyone told him that the profitable occupation of the land did not bring with it prosperity to the towns, then he must be entirely wrong in his ideas as to what produced that result. He would now aßk what

PBIVILEGES THEY WOULD HAVE TO FOBEGO if they joined tho other colonies 1 He presumed it would be admitted that if they were to gain certain advantages they ought to be prepared to make some sacrifices. He admitted that we would lose something if we threw in out lot with the other colonies, but the loss would be more sentimental than real. Most of tho delegates at the late conference foreRaw that if Federation was to be accomplished the colonial Parliaments must be given large powers— greater than those granted in Canada, and it was urged upon all sides that the special circumstances />f each colony would require careful consideration in the framing of a dominion constitution. Waß it to be mipposod that in drawing up that document tho repreHPntativQH of the different colonies would overlook local interests and conditions ? Would thoy not rather give attention to tbase points and see that the constitution was of a just and workable character ? Oaotain Russell urged three objections against New Zealand joining in the Federation movement — (1) the Maori difficulty ; (2) co-operative defence ; (3) New Zealand's dislike to a protective policy. He was sure they would be surprised that the third objection should have been made by one of the members of a Protectionist Government. Among the matters that would be dealt with by n Federal Parliament would probably be the following : — Publio debt and property, regulation of trade and commerce, borrowing of money upon credit, raising of money by taxation, postal and telegraph services, census and statistics, naval service and defence, currency and coinage, bankruptcy, marriage, and criminal laws, regulations for the exclusion of aliens, and the establishment of a Court of Appeal. He asked was there a single item in the list ho had read that the Parliament of the united colonies could not, with proprietary and mutual advantage, deal with ? In all, or nearly all, these subjects, there was community of interests. For instance, no ono would deny that if the colonies were united

THEY 00DLD BOBROW MONEY at a loss, rate of interest than if thoy did so individually- their credit would undoubtedly stand higher than if they were separated and independent. Then with regard to the regulation for the

EXCLUSION OF ALIKNS.

About 18 months ago we bad a proof of the benefits that would have resulted from the existence of uniform legislation on this question. Certain people who, in the opinion of many, formed an undesirable clasa, were about to come into the colonies. What happened? Each colony took independent action, and tried to avert the threatened evil. The various Governments communicated with each other on tie subject, and eventually, by a number of devious wayß, each succeeded in stopping the undesirable influx ; but with a Federal Parliament in existence all the delay and worry incidental to isolated action would have been avoided. The one Parliament, the one voioe, would have settled how the thing was to be worked, and the interests of each colony would have been promptly and effectually protected The same argumont would be found to apply tn the other mattera ontrusted to the her

supreme Parliament Anotl argument againßt Federation was tho

DKPKNOK BOGEY. It was urged that a Federal army would havo to be established, and that Now Zealand would have to boar a pronorf ion of the coat, It was alfo known tluvt a, rystcm of naval defence would most likely bo proprvod. Well, on thin, as on other noinf.H, it would be thr> duty of our dolegfttofl to see that wi receive fair play. If we were INVOLVED IN A WAR now we would look to Britain for aid, and so would the otbpr colonies in a like contingency. If wo united with the other colonies we would still receive the assistnnce of Britain, so that it was difficult to pee in what way our position would be changed for the worse in the evont of federation. . . . The day would surely come when the question of defence would be forced upon the coloniop, and would they not, he asked, be better able to repel a foreign invader as a dominion than fiingle-handei ? No one could tell from wbat quarter the attack might como, and it might ao happen that at that particular juncture Britain would bo ho involved aa to need her fleets near her own shore?, in which caße wo would havo to look to Australia for assistance. How much better wo should fare than if wo had to faco the danger alono. It would be of interest whiln on this point to recall what occurred about 25 yearo ago. At tbs,t time tho natives threatened Auckland and Taranaki, aud Sir John Hall, who Imd holpod to exclude ua from tlin Federation movement, proceeded to Sydney for assistance. He was successful in bis mission, a man-of-war, with troops and arms, being de-

Bpatohed to New Zealand. At that time they called for the protection of tha British Grown, and they had an equal right now to the same protection. Undoubtedly the troops and man-of-war gave them the protection they required, and^ there had been no need to go to England for it ; they were glad to apply to a neighbouring colony for the assistance which proved of so much value to them in an emergenoy. Ifc had been asked if the colonies w&ra

PREPARED TO FEDERATE.

He for one did not pretend to offer an opinion as to whether they were or were not, but he would again point out tbat their united populations were now about4,ooo,ooo, that they were the wealthiest people in the world, and that their productiveness was something marvellous. The valuo of their united products last year was £96,000,000, and as a proof that they were the wealthiest people in the world ha mentioned that while the income per head was £16 6s in Austria, £18 4a in Germany, £2f>|lss in France, £35 14s in the United Kingdom, and £39 in the United States, it amounted in Australasia to £48. Thus they stood prominently forward as the wealthiest people on the whole face of the earth. . . . He was firmly convinced that the advantages of Federation would far outstrip the disadvantages. They would not be joining a people of another colour, or who Berved a different sovereign, or who showed any disposition to depart from their allegiance to that sovereign. Thoy would not be injuring their foreign trade, but they would be opening up for the people of this ooimtry a largely extended trade, and would be raising themselves in the eyes of the world. The people here would be inspired with hope, and many others would be induced to come and settle on the lands, The question waß one of much importance, deserving more full and able treatment than be had been able to give it. He hoped all would carefully look into it for themsal ye , and would remember that the people i thb ether colonies were of the earner jlour h < g' from the same source, and lived under fie same gloriouß emblem — the emblem whioh, w h soever ib floated on the bieeze, commanded t"ae admiration of its friends and the reapeot of its enemies. Let them ask themselves whether He who ruled all things could ever have intended that these fair lands, inhabited by the same race, were to remain divided'and opposed merely by drawing a stroke aoross a map or because they were separated by a few miles of Bea. Was it not more in acoord with the proper disposition of things that we should avail ourselves of the forceß at our oommand, and use to tho full the natural advantages we possess, extending the hand of fellowship to our neighbours, uniting heart and hand in one common object — that of bringing under one roof the present scattered and contending communities, and welding them into a groat and prosperous country, peopled by a contented, united, friendly and loyal race— loyal to oach other, to tho Dominion, and to tho British Crown?

Mr Ward_ was frequently and warmly applauded during his address, but more particularly at its conclusion.

An elector asked if Mr Ward did not think that, in the ovent of Federation, the Now Zealand representatives would ba in tbe same position as the Irish mombers of the House of Commons— subject to continual defeat through the number of other members being far largar. Mr Ward said the Irish members wanted n Parliament to attend to thyir purely local affairs. The people of New Zealand hi\d that now, and those who supported Federation did so on the express understanding and provision that they were to have their local Parliament to attend to their local affairs. He therefore thought it extremely unlikely that New Zealand would ever be placed in anything like the unfortunate position that Ireland was to-day. Several other questions having been asked and answered, Mr J. P. Joyce moved— 11 That this meeting haß listened with pleasure to Mr Ward's able address on a eubj3ct of very deep importance to this and the other colonies* in whioh he has introduced many matters that all of us would do well to think over and form opinions upon, that he has brought many facts forward that had not previously Been the light, and that we are under very great obligations to him for having so well informed us on the subject." The motion was seconded by Mr M'Qiißrrie, and oarried unanimously.

The French warship Dubomlien, tho flagship of the Pacific station, with Admiral Roginault Depromasnil on board, is expected to mnko a visit to New Zealand waters towards the cud of the year.