THE COMMONWEALTH

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11563, 16 June 1900, Page 3

THE COMMONWEALTH

PROTESTS AGAINST ANY AMENDMENT. Beceived June 15, 9.39 o.m, Sydney, Friday. Seen after the rising of the Legislative Assembly, Sir T7. Lyne, Premier, stated that he objected to the Premiers' Conference, but in agreement with the other colonies sent the following cable to Mr Chamberlain :— "Opinion throughout Australia is strongly opposed to tho proposal to subject the right of appeal to the Privy Council to the consent of tbe executive of the Government. "We urge the reconsideration of the proposition to pass the bill without alteration. If that course cannot be adopted the original proposal of Mr Chamberlain that such amendments be made aa will preserve the prerogative to grant special leave to appeal intact would be less objectionable than the present proposal." Adelaide, Friday. In the Legislative Assembly Mr Holder intimated that the Government favored the Commonwealth Bill as originally passed, and strongly opposed any amendment. A CONUNDRUM. THE COMPROMISE. DELEGATES' CONTENTIONS. Bccoivod Juno 15, 10.10 p.m. Brisbane, Friday. Sir Samuel Griffiths considers clause 74 a complete conundrum. London, June 15. The Foderal delegates consider the compromise substantially restores the bill in tho form tho Australian people accepted it. T'.o portion of the clause permitting appeals by consent to the Executivos was inserted by the express wish of tho Imperial law officers. The delegates would have preferred absolute prohibition if the decision was on a purely Australian constitutional question, ex" cept by the High Court. If such questions arising in private cases were decided by the Privy Council and in other cases by the High Court endless confusion would result. Becoived June 16, 1 a.m. Sydney, Friday. The acting-Premier of Queensland has wired to Sir W. Lyne urging him to reconsider the decision of New South Wales not to be represented at the Premiers' Conference ; also asking if Sir W, Lyne is willing to join in a request to Mr Chamberlain to postpone consideration of clause V. for a fortnight, to allow the Australian Governments time for concerted action. Sir W. Lyne has replied that he considered no good would result from a Pramiers' Conference at present. He could not think of adopting the conclusion of a. conference where New South Wales was not represented, nor could he agree to ask Mr Chamberlain to postpone consideration of the olause. He informed Mr Eutledge of the previous cablo sent to Mr Chamberlain through Mr Barton, to which the following words were added : — " South Australia dees not agree to that part of the cable aftor the word ' altering,' and Westralia favors Mr Chamberlain's original proposal, and objeots to tho executive Governments having anything to do with such appeals."