FEDERATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2192, 23 April 1891, Page 3

FEDERATION.

CO THI EDITO*. Sik,—l have come across a copy of your pnpei of the 14'h of March, and I notice the leading article is upon Federation, and right glad lam to see it. Please allow me a little space in your valuable journal, and X will endeavor to be short sod to the point. I say its all earnestness, as a colonial of thirty vears standing, our own colony of New Zealand cannot afford to throw herself away, whatever faults and failures and drawbacks have been made nnd caused in the past by each succeeding Government. Although we are only in the infant stage of progress, and burdened with snob a heavy load of debt, while for several years past the colony has suffered from no severe a depression, yet, notwithstanding, as for as my bumble judgment tells me, New Zealand must not give up governing herself, for I believe should the time ever come when the colony joins Australia she will repent of it. Each of the seven different colonies have from their foundation, and op till the present lime, managed to look after themselves, and sorely, with such an experience, they can for the future do the ■amo. No, no ;it will not do to sell our country for a mesa of pottage. Why, Mr Editor, give op our own iodepeodenc" t We cannot afford to be so foolish as (o do such a wrong thing. It. behoves every colonist who has a stake in the country 10 let bia voice be heard from the north to the south npoii a matter that is so important, and which affects every man, woman, and child in this fair land of ours. It is not potaible in any sense of the word that we ohoud be better off by annexing ourselves to Australia. I need hardly say that New Zealand is a distinct colony from any other ; in fact, it is an island of itself. That alone is a sufficient reason why we should not join. If at the next session of Parliament this subject should be brought up, the Government and our representatives should determine to this effect : New Zealand oaouot enter into this Federation scheme ; it wont benefit us in any degree, and therefore wo wont w*si« any time in talking, bet simply say No, We will do as we have done for the past fifty years, and with experience cut our coat according to the cloth, do belter for the future, and still hold the reins of governing ourselves. —lam, etc., Edwin Kdtland. Richmond Grove. Southland, April 4, 1891.