FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 77, 3 April 1897, Page 2

FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Adelaide, April 2. The Constitutional Committee fixed the representation in the House of Representatives ab one member to every 50,000 inhabitants ; while in the case of the smaller States the minimum number of members is fixed at five, instead of four, as provided in the Sydney Bill. A long debate occurred ever the franchise. Adult suffrage was. defeated by nineteen to four, and manhood suffrage by fifteen to eighb, ib being ultimately decided thab the firsb Parliament should be elecbed by bhe suffrages existing in the various colonies, bub no person to have more bhan one vobe. The Constitutional Committee decided thab until Parliament otherwise provides the qualifications for a member of tbe House of Representatives shall be 21 years of age and a residence of three years. Naturalised subjects muab reside for five years in one of the colonies before bhey can be elected. The duration of Parliament was made four instead of three years. Members of the State Assembly are bo be elected by the State as one electorate. Half tho members retire every third year. In the event of the death of a member of the Sbate Assembly the second man on the poll fills bhe vacancy, instead of holding a fresh election. The Committee is now discussing the payment of members' question. The Judiciary Committee agreed bo have a final Courb of Appeal, except in cases involving the public interesb of the Cemmonwealth or any State or other parb of the Queen's dominion, .which may be remitted to the Privy Council. This means thab private libigants cannob appeal bo the Privy Council. . . The Finance Committee are within sight of a scheme by which the debts of the various colonies and surplus revenue will be so dealb with thab one will practically erase the other.