FOR AND AGAINST: Regional Differences
Extra Document 4

IN FAVOUR: A TASMANIAN POINT OF VIEW

… To my mind – from a Tasmanian point of view – the question is, not how much money we may stand to lose by joining the Federation, but rather, can we afford to stand out should one or two of the other colonies agree to federate.

Should Tasmanians say 'no' to the proposal to federate under such circumstances, what would be the result? Instead of being an independent state in a great national Commonwealth, enjoying all the advantages of free intercourse, and free interchange of commodities with communities of people over three millions strong, we should be an isolated and solitary island population, living pretty well upon and with ourselves; without aspiration, excepting to tax everybody who may come within our reach. The harbours of the Commonwealth would be closed against our ships, and against our commerce; the people of the Commonwealth would regard us as pariahs – outcasts from national advancement – and healthful patriotic sentiment, a country unworthy of consideration, excepting in so far as it can be made profitable use of. A worthless stone lying in the pathway of Australasian greatness, to be kicked aside as an impediment to the onward march towards national power and glory.

Beyond this, Tasmania would be regarded as a standing menace to the safety of the great Australasian Commonwealth. The population too poor, or too parsimonious to defend themselves, the island would be open to capture by any enterprising enemy, and so become a base of hostile operations against Australasia. Such a position would not be likely to engender kindly feelings towards us amongst our continental neighbours.

Coming to our more direct and immediate interests, within the last few years our population has increased considerably, chiefly owing to the establishment of mining communities on the West Coast. Two or three years ago that part of the territory was a wilderness; last year, 1897, the population numbered over 14,000, and was steadily increasing. Miners and their households are generally grand consumers, so that the influx of such a population must greatly benefit all classes of Tasmanian producers. The majority of our mining population is drawn from the continental colonies. They are unsettled in their habits, and will remain with us only so long as they can obtain profitable employment. I am inclined to think that if Tasmania stands out of the proposed Federation it will lead to the withdrawal of a large amount of capital which has been introduced from the other colonies for the purpose of working the mines, the sources of employment will diminish, and the West Coast population will consequently decline. As regards our Tasmanian population proper, it is not particularly stable. The elders, who are attached to the country and the soil, by reason of association and their property ties, are gradually passing away, and the new generation, unfortunately, does not exhibit any sentiment of patriotism. Given a go-ahead Commonwealth near at hand, with its trade untrammelled, cheap living, plentiful employment, and abundant sources of recreation, I fear the temptation would be too great for the youth of isolated Tasmania, and there would be an exodus ...

T.C. Just, Launceston Examiner, 12 May 1898, cited in Scott Bennett (ed.), Federation, Cassell Australia, North Melbourne, 1975, pp. 109-10.