Australian Federation.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6698, 16 May 1900, Page 3

Australian Federation.

NEW ZEALAND AND THE OTHEE

COLONIES,

WOEDS OF WARNING,

(By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright.) (Per Press Association)

I London, May 14. , In the course of his address in moving : the second reading of the Australian ■ Commonwealth Bill, Mr Chamberlain j said that everyone was delighted at the ' birth of a new nation, but since some of the powers which the Bill sought to confer on the Federation might involve the Imperial Government in hostility, it was only reasonable that the tribunal for interpreting the powers of the Commonwealth should command confidence in Australia and Great Britain. The Government, however, accepted every line of the Bill which dealt exclusively with Australian interests. He feared that West Australia's financial system would be considerably strained. New Zealand's extraordinary proofs of affection, proceeded the Colonial Secretary, almost inclined the House to make the cessions asked for by that colony if the difference only concerned the Motherland, but since the points at issue were exclusively between the federating i colonies and New Zealand, the decision of the Premiers' Conference at Melbourne (where it was declared that there was ample provision under the Bill as it now stands for the inclusion of New Zealand) was bound to be accepted. While making it clear that the Colonial I Laws Validity Act applied to the Commonwealth, the Government, said Mr Chamberlain, did not intend to forget the contention of the Federal delegation that the subordination of the statutory authority of a great autonomous Commonwealth ought to be subject to express Imperial legislation after the establishment of the Constitution.

The only amendment he would propose related to Privy Council appeals. The relations of Great Britain with the autonomous colonies depended entirely on their free will and absolute consent. If they felt the links irksome, no attempt would be made to force them. Mr Chamberlain went on to warn the House that if the final Court of Appeal were weakened, there was a prospect of numerous causes of friction and irritation arising injurious to Australia, and creative of complications which would possibly be destructive of good relations and prejudicial to the unity of the Empire. Moreover, there was no such unanimity as to justify sacrificing the interests of the Empire. Mr Chamberlain said he believed Australia would accept amendment for preserving the same right of appeal as in Canada, in a spirit of co-operation, not in antagonism. He expressed regret at the references made by the Hon. C. C. Kingston to Chief Justice Way and Darley. He hoped the Bill would pass exactly as it was introduced. No more important legislation had ever been introduced, and there had been no more beneficent feature of the Queen's reign than the federal movement.

May 15. Mr Chamberlain stated in the course ot his speech that the Government proposed shortly to appoint four Imperially-paid fresh Lords of Appeal with a seven years' tenure. One each ■would be drawn from India, Canada, South Africa and Australia, and would be given life peerages. This would be done with a view to provide for the immediate future, but without prejudice to the greater scheme of Mr R. B. Haldane, M.P. for Haddingtonshire.

Sydney, May 15. The Hon E. Barton, in a cable message to the Premier announcing the introduction of the Commonwealth Bill to the House of Commons, says that Sir Henry.Campbell-Bannerman has intimated that he will have the whole of the Liberal party at his back in an attempt to have the measure restored to the form in which it left the hands Australian people. Eeceived May 16,'at 9.45 a.m. London, May 15. The Commonwealth Bill was read a first time in the House of Commons amid cheers. Much comment has been made oi: Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman's bitterness towards Rir Chamberlain, who was accused of going behind the appointed representatives and inviting the Governors to pick up gossip -unfavourable to the delegates, even from unwilling lips. He spoke in the utmost scorn of the newspapers' opinion.

Wellington, May 16. The Agent-General wires the Premier under date May 15th that Mr Chamberlain in his speech on the Australian Commonwealth Bill yesterday made an eloquent reference to New Zealand's great display of affection for the Mother Country in her services in South Africa, and a warm regard was felt by the Mother Country for New Zealand in return. His words were loudly cheered.