The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, MAY 6, 1901.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 6 May 1901, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, MAY 6, 1901.

The work of the Federation Commission, as far as regards the taking of evidence, is finished. The chairman is engaged in drafting the report, and it will be submitted for the consideration of the Commissioners at a meeting which will tak* place in Wellington on Wednesday next. If this statement about the drafting of the report is correct it would seem to imply that the Commissioners have already "agreed on their verdict" except as to details, or the chairman would have had little or no basis for his draft. But besides the probability of practical agreement having been arrived at, as evidenced by the work which the chairman is said to be engaged in., there have been several unofficial utterances by individual members of the Commission, all pointing in the same direction, namely, to a recommendation that the colony should not at present seek to become a member of the Australian Commonwealth. We do not anticipate that the report of the Commission will go so far as to utterly repudiate and condemn the idea, of New Zealand federating with Australia at some future time. The report will probably advocate a policy of " waiting and watching," which is an attitude that will exactly suit the views of a large number of New Zealanders, though no doubt there are many who would be prepared to endorse a much more pronounced condemnation on the part of the Commission. Before the Commission left Australia we commented upon what two or three of the members had given as their personal opinions on the subject to interviewers, and we notice that since the return of the Commission to New Zealand there has been some more talking to the same effect. LieutenantColonel Pitt, the chairman of the Commission, told a Wellington interviewer that the prevailing feeling in Australia with regard to the inclusion of New Zealand in the Commonwealth was one of indifference. "The people of Australia," he said, "would welcome New Zealand if she were to come in, but they were not anxious about it; indeed, some of those whose opinions were heard by the Commission, expressed the view that New Zealand, if she consulted her own interests, would remain outside of the Commonwealth." He i added that there was no feeling of bitterness entertained in Australia towards New Zealand. Colonel Pitt declined to indicate the direction of the report, but we fancy that the tone of his remarks as a whole pointed to his being :idverse to immediate federation. He told the interviewer that the investigations of the Commission had led to the accumulation of a great mass of information which wculd be of material use to the colony, and on that point he was very likely right. Captain Russell,, who is another member of the Commission, was also interviewed. He spoke of the kindly feeling existing in Australia toward this colony, but said that the Australian people "had not yet sufficiently studied the effect of the inclusion of New Zealand in the Commonwealth. As to the financial aspect of federation, a good deal of evidence had been placed before the Commission, but none of it was very satisfactory." "In fact," said Captain Russell, " it is impossible to have definite financial proposals until some tariff scheme has been arranged for the Commonwealth." That statement, which is obviously true, is sufficient to show what Captain Russell's opinion is with regard to immediate federation.' The financial aspect of the question is not all that has to be considered, but finance must be an important factor in the endeavour to | come to a final conclusion, so that, as long as the colony is in ignorance as to how she. would fare under that head It would bs folly to commit her to an agreement from which there could be no withdrawal, no matter how disadvantageous it might prove to New Zealand. In reply to another question Captain Russell said that up to the present time there had been' no definite evidence of any distinct gain to New Zealand in regirl to the financial phase of federation. In his speech •it Hokitika, the Premier appears 1o have avoided the question'of fedjra'.on with Australia, though lie spoke of 'lie advisability of closer union with the Alov'wr Country. His views, however, (vi the subject of New Zealand's joining the Commonwealth are no secret. He is .strongly opposed to it. not merely b-caise l;a believes that it would hwiper i'-e f.r>-,Lii-:e and therefore retard the £ rogre.'s rt this colony, but on the broad grorvl of principle, as it would effectually prevent New Zealand developing into a nation on lines suitable to the character of the people. It is certain, therefore, that even if the j report of the Commisssion were altogether, favourable to federation, the proposal would not be carried in the legislature over which the Premier exercises such a dominating influence.