AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12158, 23 March 1900, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

THE AMENDMENTS TO THE COM-

MONWEALTH BILL,

A SPEECH BY LORD CARRINGTON

A STATEMENT BY THE VICTORIAN

PREMIER,

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 21

The amendments suggested by the law officers in the Commonwealth Bill refer to the navigation laws and the application and validity of the Colonial Laws Act, 1865, to the Commonwealth. Mr Dickson, of Queensland, denies that the constitution is unaltered, but expresses the opinion that Queensland wishes a plenary appeal to the Privy Council maintained. Lord Carrington, speaking at the City Club, said that the federation of the Australian colonies had been ratified by the great majority. Britain should not arrogantly order another compact to be made. He expressed a hope that the Liberals would stand shoulder to shoulder and refuse to sanction any alteration in the Bill.

MELBOURNE, March 22,

The Premier states that the colonies have given West Australia every opportunity to come into the Commonwealth. Ho thinks it unlikely that Mr Seddon will countenance Mr Reeves’s action. He believes that Mr Barton’s reference to Clause 6 should read Chapter 6. The Premier is surprised at Mr Reeves’s attitude towards the Commonwealth Bill, which was wholly unexpected. That is why he so heartily agreed making a joint representation to Mr Seddon. The Premier says that no doubt if New Zealand desired to federate at any time, the other colonies would give her every facility to do so.