Intercolonial Federation.

Thames Star, Volume XXI, Issue 6432, 22 November 1889, Page 4

Intercolonial Federation.

We suppose that New Zealand ought to feel flattered by the anxiety expressed in several quarters in Australia that it ' shonld be included in any scheme for the establishment of a Federation or Dominion. At the same time it will, on con* tideration, be found that in all probability New Zealand would be acting very tin wisely in allowing herself to be included in any such scheme. The main advantage offered is intercolonial reciprocity in the matter of tariff. There can be no doubt that intercolonial Freetrade would be an enormous benefit to this colony, hut even this benefit might be purchased too dearly. To allow any Australian, interference in the management of our local affairs would be an altogether excessive price to pay even for intercolonial reciprocity. The Dominion Parliament would undoubtedly ctaim a right of interference in many things which New Zealand, in justice to her own best interests, could not concede. Even in the matter of internal defence, which is the present motor of the Federation movement, we fail to see how any uniform laws or system could be made applicable to the Conti* Dental colonies and to New Zealand. The enrolment, distribution, equipment, and control of the local land forces of this colony must always remain with our own Legislature, and could never be parted with to a Dominion Parliament. This would be one stumbling-block not easily surmounted. Many others equally serious will readily suggest themselves on a little reflection. The fact is, New Zealand would never willingly submit to the control, however slight or gentle, of a Governor-General in Melbourne or Sydney and a Parliament meet• ing in Australia, in which the New Zealand representatives would form but a Tery weak and impotent minority. To do so would be to admit a position of inferiority which no true New Zealand colonist, imbued with a true perception of the future destines of his adopted country, could for one moment be a party to. The Australian colonies can easily federate and form a Dominion. There is no very marked national or social difference between the several Australian colonies. The history of the colonisation and their constitutional history have been much the same, their climate throughout is Tery similar, and their productions do not vary greatly. They are in close and intimate connection with each other, and the geographical distinctions between them are merely political and arbitrary. There can be no good reason why a strong central government should not be established for the Continent. Our situation, however, is »cry different. We are separated from Australia by twelve hundred miles of sea. We are not in touch geograhically, politic* . ally, or socially with any of them. Our natural position is far superior to that of any one of the Australian ooloDies, or indeed to the whole of them combined. We have within ourselves all the germs and requirements of complete nationality. We have a far wider range of climate audj production than Australia has, cur lands are more fruitful, and although - ! we 'have not the 1 Bame extent of lerri- | iory, it is by no means certain that New 'Zealand is not capable of sustaining in i comfort and plenty, nearly as numerous a 1 population of European descent as Aus- : ; lralia. The whilomaa oau live, and live well, in every part of New Zealand; but a very large proportion of Australia is 'practically uninhabitable hy our rase. 1 All that New Zealand w^ts is population - and good government, "i ha latter would - ' not bd attisiped by entering an Austra--1 lasuc Dcmioiou, ; a,od the former will 'comd'ic due time. Hew Zealand is 'naturally selt-conta'iued, Within the ring fence of ocean which surrounds it are all < the elements of nation si great Dees and prosperity, and it h«9 no need to consent ito tceept an inferior popition in «o Aij«----1 tr«lMi«Tedentiop.—Wellington Fcit.