AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1039, 22 June 1894, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Sir G. R Dibbs's letter to Sir J. B. Patterson, the Victorian Premier, containing details of his unification scheme is published. He proposes one viceroy for the two colonies of Victoria and New South Wales, one parliament with two chambers, and one tariff and excise, joint debt, railway management, land revenue, land law.?, defence, and postal and telegraphic administration. The Provincial Governments are to have wide local powers. The surplus revenue of ihe Supreme Government is .to be apportioned to the provinces partly on a population basis and partly on an occupied mileage area basis. Certain departments of the public service are to be removed from political influence and have their headquarters some in Sydney and some in Melbourne. One High Commissioner's establishment in London is suggested, and one Supreme Court. The title of the federation is to be the { United Colonies ' until the others come in, when it should be the ' Dominion of Australia ' or ' United Australia.' Under the Commonwealth Bill drafted by the federation Convention an additional chaVge of L 1,325,000, 325,000 per annum woqld have been involved, but effective unity on the other hand could save the two colonies at least L 1,440,000, 440,000 by reduced interest on the debt, gain in railway administration, and savings in other departments.

The Standard doubts whether Sir G. It. Dibb's federation proposals are more workable that those of Sir Henry Parkes. It says the scheme is prudent though imperfect.

The Times doubts the success of Sir G. It. Dibb's federation proposal, which it regards as an electoral cry.

It is considered probable that the Premier of Victoria (Sir J. B. Paterson) will ask the House to adjourn for a week to enable himself and certain of his colleagues to consult with Sir G. It. Dibbsas to the next step to be taken to submit the federation proposal to a representative body which shall be authorised to deal with the matter.

Sir H. Parkes says that Sir G. It. Dihbs' federation scheme is so utterly ridiculous that he has not bestowed any attention upon it, aud he believes that the other colonies will have nothing to do with it,