AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10635, 20 April 1900, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL. MR CHAMBERLAINS DESPATCH. THE PREMIERS' CONFERENCE. United Pr«M Aeeociation—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. (Received .April 19th, 9.20 a.m.) PERTH, April 19. Sir John Forrest, speaking at the Australian Natives' Association, said that do j one had been more misrepresented on the question of federation than himself. It had been his life-long aim, and what he desired i waa very near at hand, and, if conceded, ■ there would be a united Australia. He waa I surprised at the stand taken by those who h*d been foremost in the fight for federation. They were demanding from the Imperial Government, at th« revolver's point—"This is what we w*nt, and we snail have it." (Received April 19th, 9.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, April 19. Mr Chamberlain's despatch to the Premiers, with reference to the retention of Privy Council appeals in the Commonwealth Bill, has been received. He reiterates the argument*, that to do away with appeals would seriously impair the unity of the Empire. He states that at present there are two Courts of Appeal, and the House of Lords Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has proposed to fuse them into one, and make provision to appoint a permanent colonial representative therein. He concludes, "it is felt that the Court's prestige would be much weakened if appeals from Australia were not allowed, and its value as v new link, drawing the bonds of the Empire closer, would be weakened just at * time when the desire for a stronger union has been strongly made manifest." MELBOURNE, April 19. The Premiers' Conference opens to-day. Interviews have disclosed a leaning towards granting the West Australian concessions. Though federation is the only subject billed, it is understood that the Cape cable question, and one or two other subjects, will be discussed. (Received April 20th, 12.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, April 19. - At the Premiers' Conference Mr McLean, the chairman, lengthily discussed the question of appeals to the Privy Council. Westralia's proposed amendment and New Zealand's action were also touched upon. A cable message was sent to Sir Barton asking for certain information. Pending the receipt of this nothing definite was done. The information is expected to-morrow, and the Premiers will then, it is understood, be able to arrive at their decision quickly. From "what could be gathered, the feeling was in favour of meeting the wishes of the Imperial authorities as far as possible, so long as the rights of the people who voted the Bill into existence were jealously guarded. Stress was laid on the fact that the Imperial Government could, if it chose, alter the Constitution, and the federating colonies could only stand and look on, a fact which, waa pointed out in Mr Chamberlain's despatch to the Premiers. Another report states that the Conference will probably unanimously decide not to raise any objection to the Imperial amendments. LONDON, April 19. "The Times" urges Australian statesmen and people to recognise the wisdom of the argument of the Imperial Government with reference to appeals and the application of the Colonial Laws Validity Act to the laws of the Commonwealth. It considers Mr Symons is influenced by- parental prejudice in favour of the appeal clause.