FEDERAL CONVENTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10422, 21 April 1897, Page 5

FEDERAL CONVENTION.

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Adrlaidk, April 20. IT seems certain that the financial portion of the Bill will not be accepted, and the only hope federation has ie the chanco of the Colqnial Treasurers devising »oiae workable scheme which will be acceptable to «ll the colonies, With the turn affairs have taken it is unlikely the Convention will finish before the end of the week.

An amendment! to give the Federal Government! control of railways was losb by 18 to 12.

The powers of the Executive Government were agreed to.

This afternoon an amendment to abolish the final appeal to the High Court was defeated by three votoa.

Mr. Abbott quoted a letter written by the late Mr. Justice Richmond, of New Zealand to Sir Henry Parkes during the 1891 Convention, urging the retention of appeal to the Privy Council. Mr. Camithere regarded the propoaal to dispense with the Appeal to the Queen ai the firsb step towards separation from the Mother Coantry. The arguments advanced by Judge Richmond were arguments which could noli lightly belaid aside. Tho judicature clauses passod without important alterations. The concluding chapters of the Bill dealing with tho States are now under discussion.

The morning was occupied over the method of the removal of judges from the Bench. The Bill provides for their removal upon an address from both Houses.

Sir J. Downer suggested that the judges should be impeached by the House and be tried by the Senate, a two-thirds majority of the latter being required to secure a conviction.

The suggestion was not acted on, and the clause was agreed to by specifying misbehaviour and incapacity as grounds of removal.