THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12158, 23 March 1900, Page 6

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

THE DELEGATES AND MB BEEVES

United Press Association—lU Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 22

Mr Seddon instructed Mr Reeves to secure an amendment allowing outstanding States to enter the Commonwealth on the same terms as Federal States, empowering outstanding States to federate in part, say as regards defence and the use of Federal Courts within certain limits and make treaties with federated States.

Air Barton, replying to Mr Reeves’s request for a consultation with the delegates, said that he was bound to obey the popular mandate and secure the Bill unaltered. It would not affect the interest of outstanding States. A “St James Gazette ” interviewer attributes to Mr Reeves a, statement that he was instructed to actively oppose the Bill and advocate a new referendum. The Federal delegates inquired if this statement was authentic. Mr Reeves was annoyed at the publication of the 'interview. He explained that it was not his desire to oppose the Bill except with regard to the above amendments, which would entail a delay of considerably less than a year. He wishes to proceed by friendly arrangements.

SYDNEY, March 22

.The Premiers -of Queensland and South Australia will join in the representation to Mr Seddon, with reference to Mr Reeves’s action.

Mr Seddon, when interviewed yesterday with regard to Air Barton’s telegram, said he felt perfectly satisfied that the message was incorrect and misleading, so far as tne attitude of the Agent-General was concerned. The New Zealand Government was certainly not unfriendly towards Australian Fed-'iMUon'; on the contrary, it hoped to see the movement brought to a satisiactory conclusion. But it had urged that the outlying States should not be unduly penalised and that the scope of the measure should be enlarged in the direction of encouraging reciprocal tariff arrangements between the colonies. Mr Reeves would certainly present this view without any discourtesy to the representatives of the Federated States.