Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1896. THE BATHURST FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10479, 8 December 1896, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1896. THE BATHURST FEDERAL CONVENTION.

111 is a relief to turn from the politics of our "nice little, tight little, island," important as they are to the colonists, and to note what is being done in larger fields, and the "People's Federal Convention" recently held at Bathurst, New South Wales, deserves a passing _ mention. Although an irresponsible and purely advisory body its deliberations attracted much attentention, and were participated in by speakers of some oelebrity. The ethioal side of Federation, if we may so express ourselves, was dealt with by Cardinal Moran, the head of the Catholio body, in an address of suoh power and cogenoy that a vote of thanks to him waa moved by Dean Marriott, a dignl • tary of the Anglioan Churob, The example of harmony and tolerance thus set was fairly well preserved throughout the meeting. Speeches were delivered by Mr Reid, the Premier of New South Wales, by Mr E. Barton, Mr R. E. O'Connor, M.L.C, Dr. Quiok, of Victorla, and one or two thoughtful politicians, who enjoy more than a merely provincial reputation. The decisions aotually arrived at were suggestive, and to a certain extent will be helpful. In the first plaoe, an attempt to commit the Convention to something like a declaration of independence in the interests of Republicanism, was indignantly scouted by an overwhelming majority. A resolution to make tho offioe of Viceroy Selective met with a similar fate. Fedoration, if it takes place at all, will be Federation " under the Grown." On the other hand a gallant attempt, whioh was made by Mr Epps, the seoretary of the National; Association, to preserve the conservative oharaoter of the Federal Senate, or Upper House, did not meet with the success it deserved, and was rejected. Both Houses, it was' delared, should be on an elective basis, with manhood suffrage. Under theße conditions one naturally wonders why there should bo two Houses at all. Craaar and Porapey will be so very muoh alike that it will be diffionlt to tell the difference. The discussion as to the finances did littlo more than reveal the difficulties attending so complex a subject. The amount of revenue whioh eaoh province would surrender, and the amount It would reoeive in return from the Federal fond, were made the sub. , jeotß of more or less ingenious conjee- i tures. But they remain conjectures, ' and mußt necessarily do sc Ab to < the scope of Federation differences of ] opinion prevail. The territory is bo vast, and one immense portion — West 1 Australia— is so widely separated from ] the other colonies by tracts of barren * oountry, that notwithstanding tbe as- 1 ' sumption of the Convention, many J ' themselves are beginning to doubt a whether it will be praotloable to have c even a uniform tariff. But the [_ hope of doing away with the _ border Custom houses, and being able t to avail herself of neighboring markets a is the chief inducement to New South Waleß to join the union. Only in this s event oan she reap any benefit from her a potion in establishing Fjree TreAe wHbiu | .

ber own borders. This tben is a subject whiob, before anything praotioal can be done, will have to be thoroughly threshed out. Federal oontrol of the railways is another point whioh presents difficulties. At present nnder a uniform system of railway rates, a great part of tbe Internal traffio of New Soulh Wales would find its natural outlet at Mel. bourne and Adelaide. In order to keep commerce within their own colony and justify the construction of their own railways the Now South Wales Government differentiates against Viotorian traffio, with the view of compelling the settlers to do their business with Bydney. lf the Federation were to take over the railways this oxpedient would be no longer practicable, As the gradients on the lines leading Into New South "Waleß from Viotoria and Adelaide are muoh oasior, and therefore less expensive to work, than those of the lines from Sydney, whioh have to oross the ooastel ranges, fears are openly expressed that no matter where the political oapital might be, the commercial oapital would be in the Bouth Instead of in tho east, &nd the greater part of New South Wales would become virtually an appanage of Victoria. The Convention deoided In favor of federating the railways. But the proapeot of a probable diversion of traffio was not discussed with anything like tho thoroughness whioh its importance demands. One feature of the Convention was the declaration made by Mr I Reid that he would personally prooeed to Queensland to endeavor to oompose the differences which have resulted in the holding aloof of that oolony froth the Federal movement. Thin is another matter of vital importance. Without Queensland, New South Wales would be at the mercy of the southern colonies. But to Queensland they are all southern colonies, sod she is not likely to give in ber adhesion for the benefit of New South Wales unless it is mado perfeotly clear to her that her own special interests as the only sub-tropioal province of the group will be preserved. With muoh that was said and done at the Convention in the way of vindicating ihe abstract merits and advantages of Federation we c»n heartily ooincide. But It iB only too evident that the real difficulties with whioh practical statesmen have to grapple were hardly touched, and that treatment of a very different nature will be needed bofore Federated Australia oau become an accomplished fact.