THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15250, 13 March 1913, Page 6

THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.

Australia is making progress slowly towards the building of a Federal capital. The Australian Commonwealth was inaugurated over twelve years ago, and ever since there has been controversy over the capital city. The site, the name, the cost and the designs have all provided bones of contention which have checked progress, with the result that the Parliament of the Commonwealth is likely to sit for another decade in Melbourne. To Australians the chief interest in yesterday's inauguration ceremonies seems to have centred round the name by which the city is to be known. Suggestions innumerable were made and rejected and for weal or woe the city is henceforth to be known as Canberra, the name by which the site was known before an Australian Commonwealth was dreamt of. The name controversy may now be assumed to be over, and the foundation stones of the principal buildings of the new city have been laid, but the Australian Commonwealth has much to do before it makes of Canberra another Ottawa. The new capital is in New South Wales, and while the politicians and the people of that State are anxious to see progress made with the building Victorians are in no hurry to see the seat of Parliament and the Gover-nor-General's residence removed from Melbourne, and there is a fairly strong feeling in many parts of -Australia that there are more pressing demands , on the . Commonwealth's revenue than the rapid completion of this new city. In all the circumstances it seems that a good few years must elapse before Canberra can be the seat of the Australian Commonwealth Government.