AN AUSTRALIAN VISITOR

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7295, 7 January 1902, Page 1

AN AUSTRALIAN VISITOR

THE FEDERATION QUESTION. .INTERVIEW WITH THE HON B. R. WISE. The Hon B. R. Wise, Attorney-General for New South Wales, who is on a visit to New Zealand, arrived in Christchurch. on Sunday, and was interviewed yesterday by a "Star" rapresen-bative, touching matters of colonial, linterest. Mr Wise is here partly on a holiday and partly for the- purpose of studying the working of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. As the author of the New South Wales Industrial Arbitration: Act, passed last session, fee is naturally greatly interested' in this phase of our legislation^. Interrogated as to Federation and' the possibilities of -a, reciprocity treaty between. New Zealand and the States, Mr Wiso stated that he did not think there was the slightest chance of a reciprocity treaty being arranged with New Zealand. It was the fondest of fend delusions to suggest such a thing. The Federal tariff had in no way been aimed at New Zealand. It was an inevitable incident of Federation that a duty, should be imposed upon agricultural produce going into New New South Wales, in order to bring New South Wales into line with the other States. It was quite a mistake to suppose that there was any ulterior motive- in framing the tariff prejudicial to New Zealand. Personally he, could not see why New Zealand should not come into the Federation. One of the things which had 1 surprised Mil* most in his travels was to find the word" " Australian" so generally tised in apposition to "New Zealand." It had bren a very great disappointment in Australia when New Zealand had decided to remain out of the Union. Without claiming to speak with any special knowledge on. the- subject, be could not see why New Zealand 1 should not come into the Union. She would lose nothing by joining the Commonwealth, for bJe-r Parliament would have exactly the the same power to legislate, except upon a few specified matters, such as Defence and Customs, as it had now. In the event of her joining the Union, 'he New Zealand Parliament would retain v^ actly the same control of her domestic legislation as at present. She would gain by the joint system of defence, and also in a uniformity of the laws on such, ques- j tions as bills of exchange, bankruptcy, .■] statistical information, and other commercial and general legislation. There was not one of the special measures in connection with Labour whidh liad made New Zealand famous which would be touched 1 by the Federal Parliament, and the colony would be just as free to follow its special lines as it was now. He did i>ot know what « the colony's special reasons were for standing aloof, and he was simply referring in his remarks to misapprehensions which he had personally encountered. As an Australian, he felt a great desire to see New. Zealand embraced in the union. One system of defence would carry advantages with the British Empire,, and would also mean a. more effective British influence throughout the Pacific. If & union wfere effected, it would no doubt mean that New Zealand would be given by the, Commonwealth jurisdiction over those islands which legitimately belonged to ncr, owin|j to. her geogr«p^ca|^o«4|io^,.. v The: Imperial Act constituting the ICommonwealtb. had specially given the States t>ho right to deal with all relations between the' Commonwealth and the Pacific Islands. It would be a violation of the letter of the Act to allow a specific administration of the islands, but if New Zealand were a member of \he union it would be quite within the spirit of the Act to allow her to. have such dominion, subject to Commonwealth control. Referring to the call from the Motherland f on (further assistance in South, Africa, Mr Wise said tthat the delay in. responding hadi/'been owing to the •■uncertain, condition of ihe Federal finances. Until the tariff bad been passed it -was not know© what revenue would be available. The only Federal sources of revenue were Customs amd excise, and as by the Federal Constitution the Commomwealtih was only entitled to keep os.im the £ raised, ia order to raise £200,000 for Comtlingent expenses it would have been r necessary *o levy taxation equal to four- timeif tlhat amount. Also, wlhien. /the demand came Parliament was not in session, and the military estimates load not been voted. Mr. ■Barton, had Wen placed: in am extremely tddfncuit .position— one from, which, the individual State (Premiers had! been free. With regard to "the despatch of men, exactly the same enthusiasm prevailed in Australia as here, and 1 there 'was just as great sympathy with the 'Empire as d<n New Zealand. Mr Wise yesterday accompanied* Mrs Gwtce •Neil on a tour of inspection of % number of focal factories, and expressed hiinseM well satisfied wttli what !he saw- He. is charmed so f£r with his general experience of New Zealand- In* the afternoon lie had am- fasterview with' Mr Frostick, of the Employers' Association. This morning he and Mrs W-«e left 'by the express for the south, ' and they will visit the Lake Dadaiict before returning home. ' _I^__ •.-■*' . — '- ■ ■ '■■'/