NEW ZEALAND AND FEDERATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2430, 10 October 1900, Page 17

NEW ZEALAND AND FEDERATION.

AUSTRALIAN OPINION.

MELBOURNE, October 4,

The Age, commenting on the annexation of" Fiji by New Zealand, says: — "Mr Seddo'n probably aims not only at forestalling any German or American annexation in his neighbourhood, but also at bringing the Islands into the fiscal sphere of New Zealand. He can hardly hops to make any serious gain out of the contemplated acquisition, which, in any event, entailed a serious burden in the way of naval expenditure. It suggests including the Phoenix and Union group, and Maiden and Fanning Islands in the Empire of New Zealand, as all are within the British sphere of influence, and may some day have commercial or strategic importance." The paper concludes :— " Mr Seddon's move opens up a sort of Monroe doctrine for New Zealand in the South Seas, which must exert some fascinarion for her go-ahead people ; but playing at, empire is always an-expensivc business. For Australia's part, she .will look on in sympathy. We want no more French penal settlements or German trading stations near enough to give any chance of international friction. If New Zealand is prepared to' pay the price of an expansion policy, we must wish her good luck, and an expanding revenue for some years to come."

October 5. - The Argus says that Mr 'Seddon's ambition is to bs the maker of history, and his last strategic policy is the boldest attempt he has 3 r et made to secure an abiding distinction in New Zealaaid history. He is trying to establish a second federation in Australasia. This is a big idea, and has found a bold champion in him. There has always been a party in New Zealand avlio looked less to Australia than to the .islands of the Pacific for broadening the interests, sympathies, and responsibilities of the colonists. Latterly, however, many Naw Zealanders have doubted whether the colony's albstention from the Australian Federation movement was a prudent policy. They see the advantages of one system of national laws, of common defence, of freedom of trade, of industrial enterprise, and of one 'Australasian sentiment of patriotism. Mr Seddon does not belong to this party. The disadvantage of an all-inclusive union is that New Zealand would be overshadowed, out-voted, .and out-paced by Australia. So Mr Seddon proposes lo meet this longing for a larger life a.nd for more extended relationship by reviving the old idea of an Islands Federation, in which New Zealand shall be the predominant partner. His scheme obviously implies union with Fiji. It is no secret that if the planters and traders of Fiji hoped to become a State or dependency of the Commonwealth it could at first only have been a dependency, while Mr Seddon offers them an alliance with New Zealand. * The native population would not present the same difficulty to New Zealand that it would to the Commonwealth, because the former has had experience in native laffairs: If Fiji should federate with New Zealand, then Tonga would probably soon follow when the New Zealand scheme is unfolded. It is not difficult to understand the disappointment felt in that colony over the annexation of Samoa. The article goes on to say that it is not likely that the Imperial Government will sanction any step in the direction of Fiji's union with New Zealand till the Commonwealth has been consulted. The group may become a considerable exporter, since the islands produce tropical agriculture, so the planters may look to the Commonwealth as affording a better market. The people might also feel safer if they were protected by the entire defensive resources of the Commonwealth.

SYDNEY, October 3,

A petition signed by a large number of leading merchants in the city, has been presented to the Premier. It states that the petitioners noticed with concern that there was an agitation in Fiji for the island's incorporation with New Zealand. It quotas figures from the Fiji "Royal Gazette " to show the proportionate value of the imports at Fiji from the various colonies during the past four years, and goes on to state that during the period in question the value of • the yearly imports from New South Wales increased by '£33,000, and the exports decreased by '£6000. In the event of biich incorporation there is good reason !o fear that much of ,this growing trade will hn diverted from New South Wales to New Zealand, as the preponderating value <A the exports from New Zealand to Fiji ha,s boen quoted

as shoAving that Fiji is more intimately connected with that colony than with any other. It, may be stated, continues the petition, that if the exports to New Zealand during 1899 were £281,000, £261,000 represented the value of the f-ugar shipped from the Fiji mills of the Colonial Sugar Company to their refinery at Auckland. A feature of the movement, which is known to be merely a matter of convenience, and entirely unaffected by other conditions, is thot the bulk of the operative capital in Fiji is certainly not from New Zealand. It is further shown by customs returns giving the sugar and spirits exported last year tlwi these represent 75 per cent of the value of the total exports, nearly seveneighth? of which proportion is produced at the mills for sugar refining belonging to a New South Wales corporation, the balance being made at Nama and at the Penang mills, owned in England find Melbourne respectively. The petition concludes : "We trust, therefore, that you will take steps to bring these facts under the notice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies in order that the trade interests of New South Wales, which are so largely predominant in Fiji, may be adequately safeguarded."

The Herald, commenting on the merchants' protest regarding Fiji trade, says that by far the bulk of the business of the Islands being with tin's colony the disturbance of trade by an arbitrary severance on political grounds cannot be justified. The paper has no doubt that the proposal will be disallowed by the British Government on representations by Sir W. J. Lyne.

In the Assembly Mr Thompson asked whether, in the event of New Zealand annexing the Cook Island group, the islands Avould come within the New Zealand tariff, or be .carried on with an open door to all the colonies ; also whether the Premier would take action with a view to preventing a further attachment of the Pacific Islands to any individual colonies until after the establishment of federation. Sir W. J. Lyne, in reply, said he considered the matter a serious one for New South Wales. He had given instructions to-day to prepare a cable representing to the Imperial Government that; New South Wales opposed New Zealand acquiring the islands.

October 4.

In the Assembly, in reply to a question, Sir W. J. Lyne stated that he had sent Mr Chamberlain a strong protest against the annexation of Fiji by New Zealand taking place pending the coming into being of the Commonwealth. When the time arrived he would take the necessary steps to protect the interests of New South Wale.?.

October 5

In reply to a question, Sir W. J. Lyne said that the imports to New South Wales from Fiji in 1899 were over £73,000, and the exports to Fiji £165,000. In addition, considerable quantities of merchandise were transhipped to and from Fiji.

October 6.

With reference to the trip of H.M.S. Mildura to hoist the flag on islands in the Pacific, Sir W. J. Lyne does not think this step necessarily means that such islands will become New Zealand territory. The Premier evidently relies on Mr Chamberlain's assurance that matters referring to the islands will be subject to consultation with the Commonwealth.

October 7,

Speaking to the Federal League at Yass, Sir W. J. Lyne stated that something was recently said to the effect that certain islands in the Pacific were to be annexed to New Zealand. Some little time ago when the matter was refeired to the Imperial authorities an assurance was given that the colonial Premiers should be consulted before any action was taken. As the colonies were on the eve of federation it seemed to him a proper thing for Britain to defer linking together any of the islands to New Zealand until such time as the ; Federal Government and Federal Parliament discussed what was be&t in the interests of both Australia and New Zealand. He had sent a strong protest to the Imperial authorities asking them to do nothing in the meantime, as they had only to wait a month or two until the united voice of Australia could be expressed. He thought this was but little to ask of the Colonial Office, because Australia must have control ever the islands belonging to Great Britain in the South Pacific. He also believed that the sentiment of the people of New Zealand would force that Government into Australian federation. With New Zealand's productiveness and a uniform tariff against the outside world he felt it must be in the best interests of the people of New Zealand to fall into line with them. Such a linking together under the Australian ' Commonwealth would form one impregnable whole, which could fight whether against their own enemies or, if requested, against tho.se of the old country. j

October 8.

No reply has yet been received to Sir W. J. Lyne's protest against New_ Zealand's Pacific annexation. A further cable has been sent to Mr Chamberlain urging immediate attention.

Mr M'Millan, a former Cabinet Minister, .states that he regards New Zealand's action as a deep-laid scheme to force a commercial treaty without any political connection with thf Commonwealth. Her Pacific trade she no doubt thinks will strengthen her hand in future negotiations with the Commonwealth.

In the opening address at the Chambers of Manufacturers Conference, the President, referring tc the question, said such a step as New Zealand proposed would interfere with existing Australian interests. Thejr

did not wish to appear unfriendly to New Zealand. He thought Australia justified in asking the Imperial Government not to consent to any colony obtaining an advantage over other portions of the Empire. It New Zealand was allowed to take the islands then the cloor should be open to Australian trade.

ADELAIDE, October 8.

The Register says that, taking a general view, Australia should be foremo.sb m congratulating New Zealand and Fiji when the projected union .shall have been effected. There is plenty of scope both for Australia and New Zealand in fulfilling the British mission in relation to the Pacific Islands.