NEW SOUTH WALES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5257, 13 May 1895, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION. [Special to Press Association; j

SYDNEY, Mat 12.

The Govsrnment are very confident of victory, and the general opinion is that the Protectionists will greatly damage their cause by joining Sir H. Parkes. Mr Reid says that their action pi ay a right into the hands of the Government 1 , and ho is grieved to see Sir H. Paikes bo basely betray his principles, and his opponents abandon their cause to such a shifty leader.

Negotiations, which have every likelihood of proving successful, are proceeding for reuniting the two sections of the Labour Party,

SYDNEY, Mat 13.

The new duties are being 1 levied, much to the surprise of the merchants/who reBent the fact that Mr Eeid made no announcement in bis Budget speech as to their immediate enforcement.

Sir H. Parks a, in the course of en interview, e&id that he had for a long time indicated that the time had come for breaking up the old parties and forming an entirely new one devoted to Federation. He made it no secret that he would not give to or ask support from anyone not prepared to make the question of a united Australia the first question of a great national policy. He had taken his stand en the broad platform of a new national policy under the name and banner of Progressive Federalists, and he would accept the support of any man or camp prepared to build up an Australian Nation. He would not surrender an inch of ground aa an advocate of commercial freedom, but to waste valuable time in tinkering with the . tariff was nothing short of. suicide.

The Sydney Morning Herald says either alliance or coalition by Sir H. Parkes with the Protectionists for intercepting and thwarting a resolution in favour of Free* trade would be an act of flagrant and political immorality, recognised from one end of the country to the other. If done in the name of Federation, the profession would be palpably a pretence. Federation would no more be served by an alliance between its bitter enemies and professed friends, than Freetrade can be served by Freetrade joining Protection. Federation would be little worth if purchased by the destruction of political honeßty and the confidence of the country in the good faith of its public men.

The Telegraph says if Sir H. Parkes gains office as the result of a conspiracy, ho may delude his own conscience as he pleases, but the naked, reality remains that he will be a creature of Protection, which his mission has heretofore been to kill. If Freetraders to be again assassinated, the assassins will have to face' the conntry red* handed.