FEDERAL CONVENTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10417, 15 April 1897, Page 5

FEDERAL CONVENTION.

THE SENATE AND MONEY BILLS. MR. REID'S AMENDMENT CARRIED, l'reu A jsocistloii, -Electric Telegrapb.-Uopyilcht. Adelaide, April 14. The debate on Mr. Reid's proposal to amend a clause by disallowing the Senate to amend money bills was continued last night. Mr, Carruthers (Sydney) said he had changed his mind since bis speech on tho resolution. The Bill not having provision for deadlocks he was compelled to voto against equal representation, which would not permit the will of the people being dominant. Mr. Isaacs (Victoria) considered that more concessions had been made than the justice of tho case demanded. lb was absurd to give 153,000 people in West Australia equal representation in the Senate with New South Wales, one million and three linndrod thousand. If they rejected tbo amendment federation would not be yet. One bouse must dominate in finance, otherwise responsible Government could not live. At ten p.m. progress was reported. On the Convention resuming this morning, Mr, liarcon continued the diacuesion. Be said to give the Senate the right to amend taxation Bills was equivalent to the right of amending appropriation, because an amendment of taxation would necessarily compel the Government) to rearrange their appropriation proposals. Why, if as Sir John Forrest said, there was not a single thing that West Australia could gain by federation, should he seek by holding tho balance of power in the Convention to make it impossible for colonies who desired federation to gain it. He accused Sir John Forrest of forcing the Gouvontion to consider certain clauses out of their proper order. When be. knew that there would be little chance of his colony accepting any scheme of federation, like Artomna Ward, he was quite willing to sacrifice his wife's relations, oommencing with his mother-in-law. The West Australian delegates were going back with the knowledge that while their colony was apathetic in regard to federation, their votes were used injuriously to thoao who desired federation.

Mr, Brown (Tasmania) threw his weight with the larger colonies. He could not) see how responsible Government) could exisb or bow federation could be brought) about if the amendment, wero nob carried. He reserved the right of reconsidering his decision if it was found later that the people in the smaller States objected to the amendment, bub he did not feel called upon ab present to take a step that would wreck federation,

Mr. Lewis (Tasmania) followed the example of Mr. Brown. He thoughb ib was a fitting time for the small States to show their sincerity to bring about federation for tho rest. He explained thab West) Australia had nob come to the Convention in a, playful manner. He thought Air. Barton's assertion was unwarrantable. He believed thab though West Australia would have to make sacrifices sbo was prepared to throw in her lob with tho rest) of Australia. The division was then taken, and re' suited in favour of Mr, Reid'a amendment by 25 to 23. Hud Sir John Forrest forced a division lust night, ho would have defeated Mr. Reid. Tho delay, however, gave the astuto Eastern politicians an opportunity to deal with the waverers from Tasmania and South Australia. The rest of the afternoon was occupied with the discussion as to the form in which the laws imposing taxation, customs, and excise should be submitted, Ib was decided that the throe subjects should be dealt with in eeparate Bills.