The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1891. THE FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume X, Issue 2305, 13 February 1891, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1891. THE FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

There are a good many people—of the intensely practical sort—who cannot see why New Zealand should takeany notice of the movement which is going on m the other Australasian colonies m the direction of Federation. Our position m reference to the movement haa been so far strictly noncommittal, and wliy, they ask, should we change it until we can clearly see that it is to our positive advantage to join m. These arguments have one characteristic—selfishness, and this is no less a vice m a nation than m an individual. We by no means wish t& imply that New Zealand should at once and on any conditions unite m federation with our neighbors ; but it is our duty to take part m shaping the course of this great scheme, and this duty will be well discharged by the able politicians who have been delegated to represent us at the Sydney Conference. Sir George Grey, Sir Harry Atkinson, and Captain Russell may be trusted to maintain with dignity the position which Parliament has decided to take, without discouraging Australian progress towards the desired end. Sir George Grey m particular, as one who has participated m " nationmaking," cannot but regard with the deepest sympathy the aspirations towards an Australian | nationship, and even Sir Henry Parkes, the apostle of Federation, will welcome New Zealand's veteran statesman as a leader rather than a follower or neutral onlooker m the proceedings of the Conference. Our representor tives have a delicate, difficult, and m some, respects ungrateful mission, but they may be trusted to fulfil it without causing any estrangement with the federating colonies; indeed we may hope that the mutual feelings of sympathy and respect which have subsisted during the last few years will be widened and strengthened by New Zealand's participation m the coming momentous deliberations. "We must recognise that though circumstances prevent our giving our present adhesion to the Federation, we must at no far distant future have intimate relations and ultimately participation with it, and with this m view we cannot now take up the undignified and dangerous position of selfish isolation.