FEDERATION.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 34

FEDERATION.

About this time the question of Federation had begun to engage public attention in the colonies. Mr. Seddon could not fail to be interested in so complicated and far-reaching a political problem, and at his proposal a conference of colonial Premiers was held at Hobart, to consider the possibility of drawing tighter the bonds of inter-colonial unity by means of reciprocity or some form of preferential trade.. But the Premier, with his wonted sagacity and foresight, had already made up his mind that New Zealand could not afford to come into an Australian Federation. Our interests could hardly expect to receive due recognition if we formed only one small section of nn Australasian Commonwealth; while the people of New Zealand could hardly be called upon to make any serious sacrifice on behalf of a country so far removed, and so distinct in character and prospects from their own. The report of the Federation Commission of 1901 finally convinced the majority of New Zealanders that Mr. Seddon’s judgment was correct; and the course of events in Australia since the inauguration of Federal Government has certainly not conduced toward any feeling of regret that we are not included in the Commonwealth across the Tasman Sea. And our present happy freedom from the distracting controversies and the heavy responsibilities that have been the lot of the Australian States ever since their union was accomplished, is due most largely to the political wisdom and the statesmanlike prescience of Mr. Seddon. This was a question of far more than local significance and magnitude; and the Pr emier was now to have an opportunity of proving that he could rise to the occasion in dealing with problems set on an Imperial seale. The year 1897 was celebrated in England as Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee; and the meagre records of our Parliament's legislative work for the year reveal the absence of the great lawmaker. On April 15th, 1.897, Mr. Seddon left the colony on his first official visit to England- to represent the eolony at the Royal Jubilee commemorations; and the historical importance of the occasion, as well as its intimate connection with our greatest statesman’s public career, demand more than passing reference to this eventful mission.