FEDERAL CONVENTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10424, 23 April 1897, Page 5

FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Pren AiMclrtlon. -ElectilcTeleeraph.-Copyrlfht. Adklaidk, April 22. Whethkr the Commonwealth should or should not take over publio debts, greatly exercised the committee. The Bill provides that it shall be optional to take over the debts or any parb of the debt of any State, with the consent of its Parliament.

Sir 6. Turner and Sir J. Downer wished the whole debt to be taken, instead of a selection being permissible. It was ultimately decided to give the Federal Parliament power to take any debt without obtaining the consent of the local Parliament. With the exception of one or two postponed clauses, the financial section of the Commonwealth Bill was finished. Mr. Reid has returned to Sydney, to prepare for the opening of Parliament. Several other delepates have also left for home.

The Convention's address to the Queen expressed the hops that the federation of the Australian Colonies would be a lasting monument of the 60th year of her reign.

Members are beginning to drift homewards. Another detachment leaves to-day. The work of the Convention will probably conclude to-night or to-morrow. A hitch has arisen in connection with the arrangement to adjourn till May 5. The fact that Mr, Kingston would hare left for England before that date was overlooked, therefore it will bo impossible to meet and adjourn in the absence of the president. Later. The powers proposed to be given to the Inter-State Commission dealing with railway rates were a fruitful source of discussion to-day. Instead of laying down definite rules for ttie guidance of the Commission it wan decided to leave Parliament to determine the powers which would best safeguard the freedom of trade between States. It was sought to give power to any State to prevent the admission of opium and alcohol within its border. This idea bumped up against the intention of having absolute free trade between the States, and as tho inclusion of such subjects would raise contentions and issues when the constitution came before the people for discussion it was not coneidorei wise to give the States powors to cut off what must be a very large source of revenue to the Commonwealth. On the other hand there was nothing to prevent States prohibiting the sale of these articles within its boundary, ■o that it was hard to see how the Commonwealth would be any worse off if it gave n State the power to prohibit importation. The committee eventually decided to give such power.

The proposal to provide against deadlocks, introduced by Mr. Wise, to the effect thab if the Senate rejects a measure passed by the House, and again rejects id after the House has gone to the country on the question, the Governor-General may dissolve the

Senate, was rejected by 19 to 11. Another proposal submitted by Mr. Isaacs, providing that if either House rejects a Bill twioe in successive sessions, a referendum may be taken; but to secure an affirmative vote it would require a majority of the people in a majority of the States, and a majority also in commonwealth, was rejected by 18 to 13.