NEW ZEALAND AND FEDERATION

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 11585, 22 October 1901, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND AND FEDERATION

("Lyttelton Times.") If there had been any considerable bodv «f public opinion in New Zealand favour."iaHe to our union with Australia, the announcement of Mr Kingston's tariff proposals would surely have revived the old -discussion; but the Federation issue on fliis side of the Tasman Sea is dead and -done with, and not even the threat" of ruin to our farmers can revivie it. But Mr . <x. S. Jakins, who seems to have got ont «£ touch with New Zealand must now otherwise, and he has assured a Sydney Journalist that New Zealand must now either "come into the Federation or lose ier small fanners." The idea that our : farmers are entirely dependent upon the ■Australian market is a natural one for Australians to hold, but Mr Jakins ought I ta know better. As Mr Roper explained ; at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, only about 3 per cent. ef the exports from Lyttelton went to Australia last year, and if Canterbury i -cannot bear a small temporary loss of l&at kind her boasted prosperity must be a very hollow mockery. Sir Jakins, of course, is an ardent Federalist, but he sees only one side of the question. It does not ■occur to him that the Australian States are already crowding New Zealand out of Ifoa Sydney produce market, and that even if we entered the Federation we should have to fight for our position. Nor does le appreciate the importance of the considerations whi-'-h induced New Zealand to jaemain independent. Queensland, New South Wales. Tasmania and Western Aus- | iralia have ali&i-ly developed grievances. and for a space, at least, Federal politics must be maic-v a series of inter-State j .squabbles. Tlicn. even when the country j eettles down t<-. something like political jeace, each State will feel that it has sacri- j ficed something. !*■ may be trade or revenue «r individuality. New Zealand, in such a case, would h-ve none of the compensa•fing advantage' which the Australian States -will posses?. tL-r independence, to our mind, would bo pri-.-erved cheaply at a cost «f a million y:\nv\<. And it has yet to be shown tb.i'r 've -hall srffer heavily by «ar policy of :> -lition. The Government is already i:f.r,<!.kring the question of opening up ne>-.- xfnikets fcr our produce, and in a vear '•:■ i~". if we face the situa-

iian. boldlv. Vac !•..-■■ *-f the Australian mariet -sritl cense -•• i>o retrretted. The Protectionist?, no ' r < r.l.t. will be ready to accept Mr J:;k>>..-' declaration as representa--tSre of Nevr Z:i;::ifl opinion, but tha federal Oovpn.^e:. - . should be better informed. Fr-r i;r,.-..] or evil New Zealand is determine'] '<■ ;einain out of the Commonwealth, an»T t':e;e is nothing in the new Customs pr •M>sals to make ns go lack on our decision.

The Svdnev agents for ithe British India i Company state that the present season's i shipments of horses to India will not be as ,| great as last year's, owing to the scarcity i of animals suitable for military purposes. {