FEDERAL CONVENTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10404, 31 March 1897, Page 5

FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Press.Asiociation. —Electric Telegraph.—Copjright. Adelaide, Hatch 30. During the course of a speech yesterday, Mr. P. Fysoh hoped that if Australian debts were consolidated the Federal Parliament should oxercise some control over a State borrowing, and that fcho latter should lay their case before the higher government.

Sir J. Forrest met with a great) reception. While he did nob deprecate the debate which had taken place, he thought the Convention should go into Committee on the Commonwealth Bill. The West Australian delogates tvere, he said, very irate at the procedure of the Convention practically excluding them from the Committee on the Bill. Had the Commonwealth Bill been gone on with that would be in Committee now. As they wore bound to leave on the 14th prox., the Convention would not be ready to go into Committee before they left.

In order to close the debate early, thb Convention has decided to sit to-nighb.

Continuing the debate, Mr. Reid (Sydney) said lie could see his way to save at least £50,000 compared with the financial scheme propounded in the 1891 Bill. He saw no difficulty with regard to the franchiso for tho Senate. If they wished to make a strong body, they would nob follow the example of America. If they wished to see the Senate a powerful check, its election should be based on the will of (ho people. Hβ thought; there was a sufficient difference between the two Houses by the election of ono by districts and the other from the State as one electorate. Every State right which was a legitimate right) must bo placed in the constitution. It would be absolutely impossible to do more than lay down sound general principles. They must) equally rely on the wisdom and justice of tl'Ose forming the Federal Parliament when State interests were concerned, and they would have similarly to trust the commonwealth. With one or two exceptions, he pinned his faith to the 1891 Bill. He was sorry the Convention was not prepared to deal in the open light of day, and amend the Bill, which, with the exception of finance was a perfect basis for amendment and settlement. He approved | of the Court of Appeal, submitted in the draft Bill. If it was to be a court of appeal at all it must be final. If not it was simply adding another pitfall to the unfortunate individual compelled to litigate. One of the most essential things was the establishment of intercolonial freetrade. They must provide th.it hostile tariffs should not) remain in existence for an indefinite period. Unieia the Federal Parliament tied dowu the State? to adopt a uniform tariff within a reasonable period, federation would be t sham. They must prov.- in the constitution a liberal time in which intercolonial freetrade shall commence. There a difficulty as to the Executive's responsibility and a difficulty as to the rights of the two Houses. They must hit upon such a solution as would commend itself to people of all tho colonies. In an eloquent peroration Mr. Reid commended the British constitution against the American, and urged them to follow the lines of a constitution which h?.d preserved the power of Britain against all the changes of time. Another great argument in favour of such a course was that it was the model from which the various colonial constitutions had been taken. In regard to the power of the Senate over money Bills, they must deviate from the British constitution. The House of Lord.? made no pretence of amending or rejecting money Bills, bub if federation was to be brought about) '.he Senate must have some power, i He was prepared to deviate as far as j pp'';«!)le to meet the views of the smaller £•'"., On the question of finances this F*; ! <' ! .on tiusj '.o& be loose. Expenditure must be, .'ioV.y,limited, and they must reserve powc" •'•) the constitution which would enable [the Senate, !'is<«i on the equality of the States, to veu; lnja* tice. Therefore, they must have as a to-l, living right, the right to exercise the power of rejection of anything which permitted any serious wrong or injustice, even if it was necessary to grant them the power to throw out appropriation. If another method could be provided to deal with dead-locks, bo would be sorry to see the referendum instituted. The referendum was an extreme power to be held in reserve tor extreme cases, In regard to finance, the interest on the public debts was more than sufficient to absorb any surplus that might accrue, He thought some provision should be made to limit the expenditure of federation. - He bad ohanfled bis mind re the !H6MS.Uy !>!. httiullng over the ra.llw»ye ( ■;,. />■ i \,jr'