THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11231, 31 March 1897, Page 5

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

[Peb Press Association.] ADELAIDE, March SO. During the course of his speech yestw* day Sir H. Fysb Loped that if Australian debts were consolidated, the Federal Parliament would exercise some control over State borrowing. That body should lay the case before a higher Government. Sir «T. Forrest met with a great reception. While he did not deprecate the debate which had taken place, he, thought that the Convention should go into committee on the Commonwealth Bill.

The West Australian delegates are very irate at a procedure practically excluding them from the Committee on the Bill. Had the Commonwealth Bill been gone on with, it would be in Committee now. As they are bound to leave on the 14th, the Convention will not be ready to go into Committee before they leave. In order to close the debate early the Convention decided to sit to-night. Continuing the debate Mr Keid (Sydney) said that he could see his way to save at least .£50,000, as compared with, ‘the financial scheme propounded in the Bill of 1891. If they wished to see the Senate a powerful check its election should be based on the will of the people. He thought there was sufficient difference between the two Houses by the election of one by districts and the other from the State as one electorate. One of the most essential things was the establishment of intercolonial freetrade, and they must provide that hostile tariffs should not remain in existence for an indefinite period, for unless the Federal Constitution tied down the States to adopt a uniform tariff within a reasonable period, federation would be « sham.