THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11226, 25 March 1897, Page 5

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

MB BABTOFS EE SOLUTIONS. [Per Press Association.] ADELAIDE, March 24. On the convention resuming yesterday afternoon, Mr Barton moved the following resolutions: —Firstly, that in order to enlarge the powers of self-government of the people of Australia it is desirable to create a Federal Government which shall exercise authority throughout the federated colonies, subject to the following principal conditions:—That the powers, privileges and territories of the several existing colonies remain intact, except^in respect of such surrenders as may be agreed upon to secure uniformity of law and administration in matters of common concern. That after the establishment of Federal Government there shall be no alteration in. the territorial possessions or boundaries of any colony without the consent of the colony or colonies concerned. That exclusive power to impose and ■ collect customs and excise and give bounties shall be vested in the Federal Parliament. That exclusive control of the military and naval defences of the federated colonies should be vested in the Federal Parliament. That trade intercourse between the federated colonies, whether by' land or sea, shall become and remain absolutely free. Secondly, that subject to the carrying out of these and such other conditions as may hereafter be deemed necessary, the Convention approves of framing a federal constitution, which shall establish a Parliament to consist of two Houses, namely, a States Assembly or Senate, and a National Assembly, or House of Eepresentatives, the States’ Assembly to consist of representatives of each colony, to hold office for such periods and be chosen in such manner as will best secure to the Chamber a perpetual existence, combined with a definite responsibility to the people of the States which shall have chosen them. The National Assembly to be elected by districts formed on a population basis, and to possess th» sole power of originating all Bills, appropriating revenue or imposing taxation. An Executive, consisting of a GovernorGeneral, to be appointed by the Queen, and of such persons as from time to time may be appointed as his advisers. A Supreme Federal Court, which shall also be the High Court of Appeal for each colony in the Federation. Mr Barton intimated his intention to ask for the appointment of three committees of three members each, the Premier of each colony to be ex officio a member of each committee; the first committee to deal with constitutional machinery, the second with finance, taxation and trade regulation, and the third to deal with federal judiciary. Committees two and three would report to number one, which in turn would draw up a constitution and submit it to the speech in moving the adoption of the resolution. Mr Barton spoke strongly in favour of equal representation in the Senate. While not wishing to force 3iis views as to how the election of senators should be conducted, he would urge in his own colony that they should be elected similarly to the recent federal elections. It was, perhaps, desirable that the colonies should elect their quota to the Senate in their own way. With regard to the fond of suffrage, he thought that this question should be dealt with by the 1 Federation. The Convention then adjourned until tomorrow to give time for consideration of 'the resolutions.

The Government entertained the Federal delegates at a banquet last night, a Urge gathering being present. The Hon C. G. Kingston, the Hon G. H. Eeid, Sir E. C. N, Braddon and Sir G. Turner responded to the toast of “ Australia.” During hislspeech Mr Eeid stated that he had received a telegram from the Premier of Queensland, announcing that if the Convention adjourned for a reasonable time before finally disposing of the draft Bill, the Queensland Government would agree to bring in a Bill early next session naming ten representatives of Queensland. Both the Hon G. H. Eeid and the Hon C. G. Kingston expressed the hope that some such arrangement would be arrived at.

The Convention resumed this morning. Sir Joseph Abbott resumed the debate on Mr Barton’s resolutions. He thought that jealousy of the Sydney Convention arose largely from the fact that the people had no direct hand in it. He paid a high tribute to Dr Quick, of Victoria, for having brought about the constitution of the present Convention. He was glad to see that Queensland was likely to come in. He thought that even the remote colony of New Zealand might have taken part in the work of the Convention and sent some of her leading statesmen to assist, although she might not ultimately come into federation.

Sir George Turner considered that there should be no property qualification for electors or candidates for either House. He considered that the larger colonies might well make a sacrifice in the direction of giving the smaller ones equal representation in the Senate. He was not prepared to give power to Parliament to elect the Senate. He thought six members from each colony sufficient in the Senate, two from each colony to retire . every second year.' Means should be provided of dealing with the first election of senators, but afterwards the States themselves should arrange their own method, preferably by one electorate, with provision to secure the representation of , minorities as well as majorities. With regard to the popular Chamber, he would leave the question of franchise to the Federal Parliament. He favoured one man one vote, but would fall in line with any other method that the Federation might decide. He would say to the colonies, “You are entitled to thirty or forty representatives, and we leave you to divide your colony into electorates which fairly represent the popnla- '■ tion.” He would settle disputes by the referendum, but if this innovation could not be possible at the outset, then the 1 federal members would have to go back to their constituents on the disputed points. He was prepared to give the fullest power to the Federation in raising money either by • taxation or borrowing. It must have full control of the imposition of Customs and Excise duties. The railway difficulty required most serious consideration. He was, not prepared to hand over the construction of local lines because they were closely allied with the land policies of the colonies. This would not apply to international lines. He thought, without any hesitation, these should fairly be left to the Federal authority. He would give the Senate power to reject but not amend money Bills, the initiative of which must come from the popular House. The Executive should consist of five Ministers. They should give the system of responsible go ferment

a fair trial. If it wore subsequently found tliat. responsible government threatened to kill federation their constitution c6uld be altered, deferring to.the,Judicature, he said that they should 7 not lightly break what ho characterised a link with the, Mother Country by abolishing the right of appeal to the Privy Council. Another' link that should not be broken was the

appointment of the Governor' General bytho Queen. Coming to,finance, they,-mugfc,.see > that , while they took- ample , funds to sustain the Federal power, they must leave ample funds; with, the State ,tq carry on domestic work.; While the debts of the , colonies should be transferred, to the Federal body; hp could not see the necessity of handing over the assets at present. ' The. .British money-lender did .not, advance money on our'railways," but merely bn our general credit. ; The. constitution.must jiofc he so rigid' that other colonies desirous of joining could not do ■ so. . ■ ■

Mr GJ Connor, of Sydney, said that representation must be consistent with the working, of responsible government. He favoured equal representation in the Senate, and objected to Sir G. Turner’s method of settling disputes between the Houses by either the referendum or dissolution. , Such deadlocks should bo settled by. conference and compromise. If Sir G. Turner’s proposal carried with it the dissolution of the Senate.he was altogether opposed' to it; He firmly supported the permanence of the Senate, and as far as .possible keeping it. in touch witn, the public by periodical renewals. He thought that amendment, of the constitution should bo no easy matter. The principle of the amendment of, State.constitutions was not analogous,, and ■ only when it was abundantly proved ( that a great majority of j the,, people desired an amendment should ■' such rlje possible. -He- thought that T an , appellant should have the right to choose : whether...the. Federal Court of Appeal or ’ | the, Pnvy Goiincil should, finally , adjiidi-; i cate....He.could appeal to one court; but; not to both. ~ , ~ / ; , 1 Sir ,E. Q. N. .'Braddon said ho thought ■ that -with equal -representation . in- the , Senate there was-no reason why. very great power; should mot be conferred on the. Federal Parliament. ■ Ho objected to. the referendum, on the ground that the smaller colonies would go to the wall 1 under the system- He thought that four senators • for each colony would be sufficient, , ;while the representation of the 4 \ Assembly might be reduced , from - ono; member in 30,000 of the population to ono in 50,000; and further, that, together with a reduction of the honorarium of members from .£SOO to .£250, a saving- of ' £OO,OOO " would bo made in one foil swoop. He hoped that intercolonial freetrade would accompany federation from its commencement. In obtaining'control of Customs and Excise the Federal Parliament should provide for the payment of interest ou the debt. . Mr Barton altered the resolutions by substituting “Australasia”for “Australia.” Several lesser lights occupied the afternoon in addressing the Convention.