AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4084, 23 June 1900, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

IN NEW SOUTH WALES ASSEMBLY. ADOPTION OF THE COMPROMISE, MR REID S CRITICISM.

SYDNEY, Juno 22. Sir. William Lyno’s motion in tho House ojf Assembly regarding the Commonwealth Bill declared that while the Assembly would have preferred that the Imperial Parliament had accepted the Bill unamended, nevertheless the amend, .ments made in clause 74 were not a sufficiently important departure from the intention of tho original Bill to justify any action that would cause- furtlicr delay in consummating the union of the colonies.

Speaking to tho motion. Sir William .said lie had, consulted legal authorities in tho matter. ■ Tho Attorney-General had given an interpretation of the clause which did not depart in any im. portant respect from tho original Bill. He urged tlm acceptance of the amendment in tho interests of the speedy accompiishment. of federation. The an-ti-Federalists in England wore, lie pointed out, exerting their influence to prevent tho Bill from passing. • Mr R. D. Meagher moved as an amendment 'that.no cause had been shown why tho system of appeal to the Privy Council should be altered. Mr , John Norton said ho was not prepared to trust tho High Court upon all matters.

Tho Hon J. H. Carruthers, formerly Minister for Lands, objected to tho High.. Court having power .to say whether or not any appeal to tho Privy Council should be allowed. Tile Right ITon G. H. Reid, ex-Pre-mier, declared that after endeavouring to see some clear-meaning in the latest proposal he must absolutely give up the whole conundrum. He suggested that rtho .’Government should make the question of tho continuance of the dev bate'tho subject of a trial of strength. After a week's thought tho solution offered by tho best intellects jn the Empire was tho suggestion for the adoption of an explodeu, absurd, mischievous and pernicious principle. ' Alter further debate the , amendment was negatived, and tho Premier’s’reso. lution was agreed to on the voices. ADELAIDE. June' 22. Sir John Downer, speaking in. the Legislative Asscmoly in the debate on the Addrcss-in-Reply said the last compromise as to clause 74 had added complications which left Australia a great deal worse off than before. She had gained nothing but an empty appearance of local government. MESSAGE TO MR BARTON. THE BILL PASSED THROUGH COMMITTEE. (Received June 23, 1 a.m. ) SYDNEY, June 22. The Premier has cabled: to Mr Barton stating that tho Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution' expressing preference for clause No. 74 submitted in tho Bill, but failing that being agreed to Accepted the-;compromise" arrived at. A similar message,■■-was' sent to Mr Chamberlain.. .■

Mr Barton cabled to-day to the Premier stating, that Mr uiiamberlain, having the assent of the colonies to the newly-drafted clause, had thought it clesirahlo to take the committee stages of tho Bill to-day. The adoption of tho report of, the committee was made an order of the day for Monday, the Bill being reported amid cheers. Tho clause, can bo re-committed on Monday, but tho. Imperial Government contemplates a verbal alteration only will he necessary. Mr Barton thinks it unlikely tho House of Lords will delay the passage of the Bill.