FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6871, 22 April 1897, Page 4

FEDERAL CONVENTION.

(Bi Electric Telegraph.—Copyright). (rma. uctebd press association.) Received April 21, at 10.30 a.m. Adelaide, April 21. The Treasurer's financial scheme will probably be submitted on Wednesday, fee proposal to secure the non-alienation of federal lands was negatived by 21 to 13- .... The Bill is now finished with the exception of the financial clauses and those dealing with the amendment of the constitution. Received April 21, at 10.40 a.m. Adelaide, April 21. The new financial scheme provides that accounts shall be kept between all States of Customs due to each on home consumption for one year only, namely, the first year In which a uniform tariff prevails. Special concessions will be made to New South Wales, or in any case in which other colonies rise or fall above the average ascertained on a population basis. For instance, if the average contributed was 40s per head then if New South Wales contributed 50a a sliding scale would be adopted until at the end of five years, when a uniform per capita distribution was reached, the 103 due to Sew South Wales would bo returned at the rate of 2a per year till 40i was reached, a cimfliir process bringing other colonies up to the standard, so that Tasmania, contributing 30s, would receive back more than contributed. Received April -I, at II a.m. Adelaide, April 21. At the Convention last night the question of a federal capital cropped up. Mr Barton inclined to the opinion that, in order to avoid intercolonial jealousies, the capital should not be any existing seat of Government, but he thought it better to leave the question to the Federal Parliament, merely providing in the interim for a place of meeting. The point was settled by the clause leaving the decision to the Federal Parliament being passed. Received April 21, at 5.30 p.m. Adelaide, April 21. The Convention to-day adopted an address congratulating the Qaeen on the completion of her 60th year It was practically settled that the next Convention will sit in Sydney. The Committee took the postponed clauses into consideration. The duration of the House of Representatives was altered from four to three years, which was the term fixed by the 1891 Bill. An amendment to make the honorarium LSQO instead of L4OO was lost by 20 to 9. The disqualification of persons holding Government contracts from holding seats in Parliament caused a keen discussion. An amendment making the disqualification apply more generally brought members of the legal profession to their feet. "If the lawyers were to be included it would mean the loss of half their practice," said one member, but the Victorians showed that the profession in that colony were debarred from taking briefs on behalf of the Government under the same circumstances. ivlr Kingston wished to go farther, and prevent members of Parliament being shareholders in trading companies which might accept business from the Government, but Mr M'Millan protested against what would practically shut out active minded men from pnblic life. The amendment was carried, but Mr Kingston's suggestion was not entertained.