FEDERATION CONVENTION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 596, 18 April 1891, Page 2

FEDERATION CONVENTION.

ONE OF THE DELEGATES CALLS IN AT GISBORNE. CAPTAIN RUSSELL INTERVIEWED. By the steamer Manapouri, yesterday, Captain Russell was a through passenger for Napier, on his way home from the great Federation Convention at Sydney. His Harry Atkin, son proceeded by the West Coast, and we were thus deprived of an opportunity of interviewing that gentleman. But Captain Russell came ashore for a tew hours, and had a look round the place, and greeted a few of hie friends. Space prevents a full repart of an interview with Captain Russell on the subject of Federation, but hie views may be concisely given. “ My viewe on the matter," he said, “ have been advanced on the subject, but I would not like to give a definite opinion until I have had time to go quietly into the whole question, and digest the mass of information I have) acquired. lam 'strongly impressed with the desirableness ef New Zealand joining, but it has to be very carefully considered. The Commonwealth is to have power to levy excise and customs, to direct taxation and power to borrow, and to control defences, bat the weak point is that it is left to the Federal Parliament to decide whether each colony’s debts should be taken over. It would be a dangerous thing if we have so large a debt as to be unable to meat the taxation for interest and expenses of the State Government, the theory being that a certain proportion of the colonial scheme will be taken for federal purposes, and tbe balance be returned to the different colonies. Reporter: And if New Zealand should stand out? Would coercion be used, do you think ?—Great goodwill was manifested towards this colony, at the Convention. Ido not think prohibitory tariff’d would be set up. But New Zealand’s voice individually would be weak in the consideration of any great questions, and she would naturally take a low rank as compared with the preponderating power of United Australia, I think New Zealand made a mistake in not being represented at the Federation equally with the other colonies : tbe voting was by delegatee, and we had only three while other colonies had seven.

Reporter: What do the other colonies think about the probability or otherwise of our joining ?—Some do not think we are likely to join, and there is still much doubt about it. Has tha Convention furthered the scheme ? —lt hae greatly done to, but it is felt that in some respects the public mind in the different colonies has yet to exercise itself. As to freetrade or protection, that phase of the subject was generally evaded. I suppose the whole matter will come up in the New Zealand Parliament next session ?—Yes, I think it will form an important question as to what attitude New Zealand should take, and there will probably be a very interesting discussion. It is thought that in all the colonies tbe question will be untrammelled by party considerations. At Auckland Sir Harry Atkinson expressed himself strongly in favor of New Zealand joining, but not under ths present Act, which he trusted would in time be suitably revised,