SIR WM. RUSSELL STATES HIS VIEWS.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13316, 17 January 1912, Page 1

SIR WM. RUSSELL STATES HIS VIEWS.

rU.viTKi) PitEsg Association.] Hastings, Jan, ]G. ; Sir Wm. TUissell, who was one of tlio representatives oi Npv Zealand at the Australian Federation Conference iii Melbourne iv 1890, also the National Australian Convention nt Sydney in IS.SI, and one of the Royal Commission in IiKX) which reported exhaustively ngainst the expediency of New Kea!iind entering the Australian Commonwealth, was ■ interviewed by a "Hawke's Bay Tribune" reporter today. Hoarding Mr Fisher's stateraont at Hobart that the Dominion was undoubtedly in favour of federation, Sir William said: "I am astonished at tile statement, and cannot agree with Mr. Fisher's -.remarks. I returned to the Dominion, only throe weeks ago,1 so cannot presume to state what the people of New Zealand are •lying on the subject at the present moment. Certainly no one 1 talked to ii Australia or Hawke's fiay has led me to suppose that a remarkable change of opinion has taken place in the Dominion since I wont to Eng-1 land. As a matter of fact I believe the consensus of opinion would be more strongly against joining the. Federation than it was formerly, owing to the apparent tendency of a largo section of Australians to' desire the unification of Australia, instead of federation of the States. At the conference at Melbourne I moved, as an addition to a resolution affirming the desirableness of federation of tlitAustralian colonies: That "as to the union of Australian colonies, the remoter Australian colonies shall be entitled to admission at such times, nticl on such conditions, as may hereafter b:^ agreed upon.,. This was see■ended by Sir John Hall and carried. 'Hie object was to allow any colony hereafter to join the Federation if j circumstances should have so changed jas to mako it desirable. I cannot recall any expression of public opinion, j oitlier in Parliament or out, which has b-r-en in favour of New Zealand joinmrr the Federation. To keep the door onr.it so that it might bo possible hereafter, under changed conditions, is i-!.■;.■ utmost that ha? been ' desired. The possible danger of a hostile attack might lead one at first sight to Hunk that .a scheme of Federal defence must be desirable. In my opini;>n it is more apparent than real". Australia Img determined to have her own hoot, which for many years can be r.trong enough only for her own local defence and fo can be of no use to New ZeaViul, wliicJi ban much more wisely derided to contribute t» the Imperial Aavy, but in any case there exists a erv wide dierence of opinion and of policy on the most important questions. If Britain should lose command of the sea Australia could not pend troops to our aid across 1200 mil-s of ocean, and no more could she spare them from her own wide and sparsely populated country."