THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Hastings Standard, Issue 423, 11 September 1897, Page 3

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

(Pt'i - Press Associalion. Copyriyht.)

Sydney, Sept. 10

This afternoon Mr J. ,H. Symons (Adelaide) said he was willing to give way in everything down to the bare essentials of their existence as a separate State, but equal representation was essential.

The Hon. I. Isaacs explained the action of the Victorian Legislature in adopting equal representation. His colony would not assent to equal representation unless accompanied by certain other principles, so as to secure as a last resort that the larger should not be dominated by the smaller, lie supported equal representation which was justified by expediency, but did not commit Victoria to the doc-trine. Without it it was recognised that the small States would not join. Mr A. Den kin believed the people need have no hesitation in trusting themselves to the constitution proposed by the bill. The Hon. E. Barton saw nothing in the debate to cause him to change his views or the vote he gave at Adelaide in favor of the proposal in the bill. Mr E. Lyne thought the whole question of whether there was to be Federation or not centered round the subject under debate. The majority held by the small States at Adelaide tended to their demanding excessive rights. It was absolutely illogical that the small States should dominate New South Wales and Victoria. Those who demanded equal representation were going the right way to destroy the chance of. federating the people. ..New South Wales would not accept such a principle, and there was not likely to be any Federation without that colony. On a division equal representation was affirmed by 46 to <5, the noes being Messrs Carruthcrs and Lyne (New South Wales), Sir Graham Berry and Messrs Iliggins and Trenwith (Victoria). This day. The tone of yesterday's debate was of a high character. Mr Reid, interviewed, said he was hopeful of the success of the federal movement in voting equal representation. He did so in order to meet the smaller populations on the point, without which they would not federate. He expected them, when the time came, to define the powers of tbe Senate and arrange a method for preventing a deadlock and to meet the more populous states upon the point, without which they could not federate.