AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11368, 10 May 1900, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

By Telegraph.-Press Association-Copyright.

London, May 8. Replying to a letter by Mr. Dickson in the Times, wherein he confessed variance with his colleagues, and declared that the Brisbane Courier represented the matured thought of the electors of Queensland regarding the right of appeal, Mr. Barton, in a letter to the Times, urges that the same argument might be applied to scores of other clauses, and if that position were conceded, newspaper argument would supersede the ballot. He adds that if Mr. Dickson intended to support the defeated .minorities in their endeavour to amend the Bill through the Imperial Government with the view of frustrating the will of electors, he ought to have announced his intention at the outset. The opponents of clause 74 were, with few exceptions, the opponents of federation.

London, May 9.

Mr. Chamberlain is apparently disposed to reopen discussion with the view of making several amendments which it was understood had been abandoned. He adheres to the Privy Council appeal amendment. The delegates are much surprised, and strongly and unitedly reiterated their arguments, excepting Mr. Dickson, who has defined his individual position.

The delegates regard the prospects of the Commonwealth Bill being unamended as unfavourable, though the Cabinet's final attitude is not absolutely settled.

Mr. Chamberlain introduces the Commonwealth Bill on Monday.