FEDERATION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10058, 9 June 1898, Page 5

FEDERATION.

MR REID'S PROPOSALS. A CONFERENCE OF PREMIERS SUGGESTED. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Received June 7th, 10.10 a.m. Sydney, June 8. It has transpired that Mr Reid on Saturday sent confidential telegrams to the Premiers of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, stating that he could not cordially support the Convention Bill, and that the prospects in New South Wales would not-improve. He suggested a conference of Premiers to see if it was possible to arrive at any alteration in the bill which would make it more acceptable to the people of New South "Wales. He also suggested that the Premier'of Queensland be asked to join, and that Sir John Forrest be consulted. He further suggested that, the simplest way of altering the bill would be to submit addressee to the Parliaments of eaoh colony, transmitting the bill and the changes agreed upon, or by an Act of Parliament specifying the changes and putting the bill in the schedule. In a subsequent, telegram Mr Reid informed the Premiers that a Cabineb meeting had agreed to his suggestion, adding, that "whilst the Cabinet see no prospect of acceptance by New South Wales of the Convention Bill, the results of the recent campaign show that our people as a whole are sincere well-wishers of the cause of Australian union and with alterations the Bill will be accepted by a large majority of the electors. If the conference is agreed upon we will undertake to prepare and send you - before the meeting particulars of the subjects we desire to reconsider." Adetatde, June 8. Mr Kingston has replied to MiReid's first telegram that as ail the states represented at the Federal Convention accepted ' the bill by large majorities, South Australia was not disposed to favour any proposals for alteration, and was opposed to holding another convention. Hobwrt, June 8. Parliament has opened. Sir E. C. Braddon said there was no reason to believe that federation was more than slightly delayed by the failure of New South Wales. He was in communication with the other colonies as to future action. Received June Bth, 10.35 p.m. Melbourne, June 8. Sir George Turner has replied to Mr Reid cautiously. He says he is anxious to do anything in reason to obtain federation, but doubts if Victoria will favour Mr Reid's proposal. He promises to submit the amendments Mr Reid desires to his colleagues.