AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 122, 25 May 1891, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Thfc Wasbiigtol» J P* l * observes :— The National AtwJraliaa Conference in Sydney, New South Wales, Is likely to prove an event of the greatest importance :in the history of tie British Australian oblohies," The purpose »f the conference is the f raising of a constitution under whioh a federal government mey be established. The intention is that the federation shall ew brace, on terms of proportionate equality, not only the four or five provisoes of the Australian continent, but also Tasmania, New Zealand, the Fiji Islands, and other British settle* mentfl in the south-west Pacific The first point to be settled is as to the relation whioh the new confederacy shall bear to the mother country. A sobeme like that whioh has been adopted in tbe Dominion of Canada, modified to meet the differing circumstances, will be propOßed. That scheme gives to the Imperial Government tbe appointment of a governor general and a veto power in ca-e of certain obnoxious legislation, but, in other respeots, makes the Dominion Government independent. Many members of the convention, however, will favour tl.e severing of imperial lies, and the adoption of measures looking toward the founding ol ft new nationality in friendly alliance with England. Yet. as batween imperial conueo tion and complete independence, the former view is. for the present sure to prevail. Another difficulty whioh will be encountered has reference to the question of the adjustment , of the taxing power as between the Federal Government about to be created and the several States. Tliub far each of the colonies has its own tariff and collects its own revenue. In some respects their interests are sufficiently separate and dißtinot to make it Beem a matier of some hardship to abandon fiscal systems whioh have been gradually adapted, under thedincbiou of experieuce, to their peoalinr conditions. Those who are familiar with the disou»sion whioh resulted in the adoption of the articles of confederation at th« beginning of our own hietoiy will be able to anticipate the sort of debate whioh iB liable to occur iv the Australian Convention, It is safe to say that the point will not be finally settled until the method of our Constitution is adopted, which gives to the Federation Government the sole power, of tariff taxation and reserves the right of direct taxation to tho State. Whatever result' may be arrived at, the conference of representative Australians now in session is interesting as indicating that everywhere the political aspirations of English speaking people lead to a desire for greater freedom of action and for a better adjustment of the methods and machinery of government to the needs and well-being of the governed j and to Americans it is especially interesting as the beginning of a movement whioh must follow in the wake of our own experience, and whioh must so result that, by 'and- by, the oldest and greatest republio of the West — the Ualted States of America— will be in a position to send greeting to the latest of republics— the United States of Australia.