AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10637, 23 April 1900, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL

THE APPEAL AMENDMENT.

THE AUSTRALIAN PREMIERS' VIEWS

WEST AUSTRALIA'S ATTITUDE

"United Press Aseociatian—By Electrio Telagnrph—Copyright. {Received April 21st, 9.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 21. A meeting of both prominent supporters and opponents of the Commonwealth Bill carried a resolution strongly favouring the retention of the Privy Council appeal, and forwarded it to the Premiers , Conference. ADELAIDE, April 21. Mr Symon has cabled to "The Times" that his objection was not parental prejudice, but to an amendment of the existing law without the people's concurrence by a direct vote. If otherwise imposed, Mr Chamberlain's link will become a> galling chain.

The Australasian National League has cabled to Mr Chamberlain that Mr* Symon'e cable to '"He Times" was not representative or influential, and that numerous sections had always favoured the right of appeal. There was no public dissatisfaction regarding the Imperial Government's proposal, and' they urged insistence on the amendment. (Received April 21et, 9.30 a.m.) KALGOORLIE, April 21. The Goldfielde Separation League has wired to the Premiers' Conference that it is generally thought, even if Sir John Forrest's amendment is agreed to, that the acceptance of the Bill by the majority of the people is very doubtful. The chance of West Australia joining ac an original State has decreased instead of increased. The goHfields people earnestly desire intercolonial free trade, and failing that they would prefer a sliding scale to five years of fiscal slavery.