The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Morning. Thursday, February 6, 1890. FEDERATION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 413, 6 February 1890, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Morning.

Thursday, February 6, 1890. FEDERATION.

Bb just and fear not; Let ell the ends thou altn’Kt at ba thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

The question of the federation of the colonies is one which ought to be studied by every colonist, for in Australia the movement has taken such a firm hold that it appears probable the outcome wil be something more than mere moonshine. It is therefore necessary to consider the question from a practical point of view. From the New Zealander’s standpoint, we certainly think this colony should refuse to identify itself with the movement' By such a compact it has a great deal to lose and apparently not much to gain, while, to judge from the tone of the leaders in Australia, there is the danger of assisting in an effort to cut off the connection with the mother country. In the present weak state of the colonies that would be sheer folly, and no person not blinded by ambition or false hopes of some kind would be a party to it.

Of course, if we admit the theory of Federation to be good, some sacrifices may necessarily be required to ensure a consummation of the object, but the question of a closer union of the colonies really resolves itself into one of commerce, and in return for any sacrifices that are made some compensating advantages are naturally looked for. Intercolonial freetrade is the great bait held out, but to whose advantage would that re-act ? It has been stated that by reason of the tariff tbe Australian colonies can, once they are themselves agreed, force New Zealand to join the union. No doubt, if the other colonies, liked to be so cantankerous they could to a great extent harass New Zealand, but the mere mention of the possibility of such force being used to make us forego our independence is sufficient to make us regard the scheme with suspicion, and to endeavor to discern whether there is not some selfish motive at the bottom of it. We believe that intercolonial freetrade would in present circumstances act greatly to our disadvantage. What are our leading items of export? Wool, frozen meat, minerals, and grain. Australia is not likely to require any of our wool, meat, or minerals, and the compensation that would be given us in the way of an open market for grain would not be sufficient to repay us for loss in other ways. The grain crops of Australia are always irregular : in the event of a very bad season, the Australians are not likely to be famished when the fertility of the lands of New Zealand can be so easily availed of, and in good seasons they are quite able to supply themselves, while the success of the irrigation schemes are gradually enabling the Australians to provide against bad seasons. Freetrade between the colonies, and a barrier against England and foreign nations, would endow New Zealand with all the disadvantages of a freetrade policy without giving it any of the corresponding advantages. One of the rich cities of Australia—Melbourne most probably—would be made the centre for the entry of goods into the colonies, owing to the great facilities there obtainable, and the result would very likely be that New Zealand would in a short time be a mere dependency, or a parish as it has been termed, of Australia. What has Victoria to gain by Federation, excepting that Melbourne would be the great distributing centre ?—an advantage well worth having. On the other hand the Freetrade party in New South Wales see with alarm the increasing favor with which the country view the system of Protection, by which Victoria has completely outstripped her elder sister, and any new scheme is siezed upon so as to divert the attention of the electors, and thus enable Sir Henry Parkes and his party to hold the balance of power, .while there will be the satisfaction of having the Victorian market thrown open to them. In matters of defence New Zealand would be at a still further disadvantage, and she is only likely to be a heavy loser in allowing to be withdrawn the liberal protection we would in case of war get from the mother country, while if we can afford it there is nothing to prevent us increasing the efficiency of our defences. In the principle of Federation we have a firm belief, but we certainly cannot agree with the basis of the proposed scheme, which would be so much to the disadvantage of New Zealand, her geographical - position entitling her to exceptional treatment in a Colonial Federation scheme. From the crudity of the scheme suggested we may not be in a position to judge fairly, but from the information contained in the Australian journals we are inclined to believe that if New Zealand were to consent at the present time she would surrender her State rights and bind herself to act according, to the decision of a council in which she would always be in a hopeless minority. Some of the Australian Parliaments have obtained for themselves a reputation which would not be an inducement for New Zealanders to wish their country placed completely under such control.