FEDERAL CONVENTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10421, 20 April 1897, Page 5

FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Preis Association. —Electric Telegraph.-—Copyright Adelaide, April 16. A lengthy discussion ensued on the question of giving Parliament control of posts and telegraphs. Mr. Holder (Adelaide) moved to leave these services with the States. Local lines, were, he contended, purely domestic concerns. Mr. Deakin (Victoria) thought the federating of posts and telegraphs would bring about almost immediately a redaction in postal charges and cable rates, with better services to the people. Mr. Holder's amendment was lost by 30 to 5. When the question of controlling State insurance when extending its business into a neighbouring State came on, Mr. Glynn (Adelaide) said he believed the New Zealand Government) were doing business in Australia. Mr. Deakin (Victoria) interjected that New Zealand did not do business in Australia, but there were policy-holders in the Australian Colonies who merely paid their premiums through the Bank of New Zealand. The clause was amended by giving the Federal Parliament power over insurance except over State insurance, so long as that insurance does not extend beyond the State in which it orginates. Regarding a proposal to give power to deal with industrial disputes extending beyond the limits of any ono State Mr. Kingston, in supporting the proposal, referred to the example of New Zealand in regard to conciliation. Mr. Seddon had recently told him that by means of that tribunal one million pounds had been saved to the colony. Objection was taken to dictating to States in local disputes, whosoeffects might be felt in neighbouring States without the dispute actually occurring in those States. At the evening sitting on Thursday, Mr Holder (Adelaide) sought to have woman's suffrage included in the qualification for electors. South Australia and Now Zealand were quoted as striking examples of the success of the reform, but the Convention would have none of it, especially as only two Colonics out of soven had made the experiment, and rejected the amendment by two to one.

South Australia contended warmly against tho Fedoral Parliament having power to disfranchise Australian women by not adopting adult suffrage in federation, and an amendment to prevent this contingency was carried by a largo number. The machinery clauses wore got through with purely minor amendments, the Convention rising at midnight. Adelaide, April 17. The whole morning was occupied in discussing the clause dealing with the vacation of Boats by mombors on accepting offices of profit. Whon the clauses dealing with the adoption of the Standing Orders were under consideration, Sir J. Abbott cited cases of stone-throwing in the Now South Wales Assembly, and Parliament having 110 power of punishment. lie wished to amend the clause so as to give Parliamentary orders the forco of law over breaches occurring within its walls. Air. Burton thought the power altogether too wide, and Sir J. Abbott withdrew the amendment. The arbitration clause was rejected by 22 to 12. At tlio tea adjournment that fruitful source of dispute in years past between the three largo colonies over riparian rights cropped up. South Australia is anxious to have the navigation of the rivers Murray, Darling, and Murrumbidgeo, placed under federal control, while New South Wales wanted to seo the clause struck out. Mr. Koid, bo far as the Murray was concerned, was with the South Australians in thoir demands, but not with regard to tho othor rivors which did not flow through other States. Adelaide, April 19. Tho question of bounties raised a long discussion. The Bill provides for bounties granted by States ceasing when uniform duties come into effect. It was contended that on tho passage of this Bill existing contracts should, of course, be recognised, but no new bounties should bo offered except by tho State taking the risk. Mr. Holder (Adelaide) failed to see how federation could impose bounties in order say, to develops the beet industry in Victoria and South Australia, or the sugar industry in New South Wales or Queensland. In either case tho bounties would bo used to develop cortain States at tho exponso of the others, The opinion was expressed that tho bounty system was inimical to intercolonial free trade. Mr. Doakin though it was an unwarrantable limitation of State's power in prohibiting a State doing what it could to introduce its exports into tho markets of the world so long as such action did not infringe on free trado intercourse between the colonies.

Mr. Roicl opposed a system giving one colony an advantage over another which might object to bounties apart from the unquestionable effect the system would have on local markets. If it was intended to hand over fiscal control to the federation, they could nob permit the colonies to play fiscal experiments amongst selves. The debate on the riparian rights question was continued to-night. Mr. Kingston hoped the Convention would not separate bofore settling once for all what had been a constant cause of friction. It seemed as if South Australia's protests on the question had beon quietly pigeon-holed by New South Wales. Mr. Reid said none of the rivers except the Murray Sowed through South Australia and the claim practically meant the annexation of New South Wales as a catchment urea for South Australia. The latter colony had no more to do with the Murrumbidgee and Darling than Fiji, and never would have. New South Wulos had to pay for clearing these rivers for the benefit of South Australia, nor had they offered a share of the cost. New South Wales was not prepared to give up control of the internal rivers. He was prepared to give the Federation tho control of the Murray for navigation purposes. Eventually tho section giving the Federation control of the rivers was struck out by 26 to 10, and a new clause inserted giving the Federation control of the Murray from whore it forma the boundary of Victoria And Now South Wales to the sea. Sir J. Downer, in a bitter speech, said South Australians had been treated worse than if they had been enemies rather than friends. The House sits on Monday, when finance will bo discussed. An effort will be made to finish on Wednesday night. Hobart, April 17. The newspapers take a gloomy view of federation and state that there is no possibility of Tasmania joining the union with the finances in the hands of New South Wales and Victoria. The three Tasmanian delegates who voted with the large States are stigmatised a; traitors to State rights.