THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

Evening Star, Volume 11221, Issue 11221, 21 April 1900, Page 6

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. '■ MELBOURNE, April 20. • Owing to the non-arrival of a, cable from Mr Burton the Premiers’‘Conference are unable to make spy progress. They expect the cable to-night, and will conclude their labors to-morrow. The Premiere were entertained at luncheon by the Mayor of Melbourne. In the course of their speeches they outlined the position taken up. Mr Lyne said that they had to be careful not to do anything to jeopardise the Bill. He opposed granting further concessions to Westralia. Messrs Philp and Lewis favored-the retention of the appeal to the Privy Council and the admission of Westralia as an original State. Mr Holder declared for the Bill as it stood, pointing out that it was only Mr Chamberlain, and not the Imperial Parliament, who wanted the amendments, Mr M'Lean felt that it was his duty to stick to the Bill exactly as it stood, but he was not prepared to push his views to such an extent as to delay or jeopardise its passage. Briefly put, the position taken by the Conference is : the Bill as a whole, if possible ; if not, then the Privy Council appeal must be added. SYDNEY, April 21. At a meeting of both prominent supporters and opponents of the Commonwealth Bill a resolution was carried strongly favoring the retention of the Privy Courfoil appeal clause. A report of the decision arrived at was forwarded to the Premiers’ Conference. ADELAIDE, April 21. Mr J. H. Symons, Q.C., has again cabled ‘ The Times’ that his objection is not due to parental prejudice, but to any amendment of the existing law without the people’s concurrence by a direct vote. If any amendment is otherwise imposed by Mr Chamberlain the link between the Motherland and the colonies will become a galling chain. Tho Australasian National League have cabled Mr Chamberlain that Mr Symons’s cable to the ‘ The Timed 1 is not representative. Influential and numerous sections have always favored the right of appeal, and there is no public dissatisfaction at the Imperial Government’s proposal. The League urge insistence upon the proposed amendment. KALGOORLIE, April 21. The Goldfields Separation League have Wired the Premiers’ Conference to tho effect that it is generally thought, even if Sir J. I orrest’s amendment is agreed to, that acceptance of tho Bid by the majority of the people is very doubtful. The chance of Westralia joining as an original State has decreased instead of increased. It is regarded as certain that the Bill will be submitted to the people whether it is amended or not. The goldfields fieople earnestly desire intercolonial freetrade; failing that, they prefer a sliding scale to five years’ fiscal slavery.