THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10902, 8 September 1897, Page 2

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

■ : — <» ■ Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright. Sidney, September 7. Yesterday's discussion at the convention ? as marked by a desire to leave more ami lO re to the Federal Parliament. The indiation is that in some instances, at any rate, he parochial views held ac the Adelaide Jonventioa were giving way to a wider icderstandiog of the,subjects. The committee resumed this morning.. MrLyne (New Soutii Wales) delivered a )a rcchial speech, with Protection as the heme, .withoQt contributing anything :owards the solution of the-financial-diffi-wished to know whether a Jiscu«Bion on Protection «s relevant to the IQMr 10Lyne thought it was,' because bis ion was that the whole diflipulty in the Sy It federation was New Sbuth Wales'^ Freetrade policy. In regard to banding the railways to an inter-Stace commission they might as-well giro them to the . Federal | G°S?r rT^orrest-CWest Australia) said the fnancial difficulty was ■bo great that he thought it impossible to lay down a Bcheme under the present bill that would be fair and equitable to all the colonies. He thought the c was a growing desire to leave the problem £ the. Federal Parliament, Which' would have more information to work-on. 1 'In the Oonvsntion this afternoon, Sir J, Forrest saggesteS-a retain to the financial scheme-of. the : 1891 bill. What West Australia wanted was that there should be a guaranteed return from the federation scheme equivalent to the: average obtained from the custom* during the past few years. Sir G Turner (Victoria) said that such a desire was absurd, because West Australian customs at the present time were abnormal It wohld be as reasonable for Victoria to base her return on the amount 'obtained during her boom tears. ■ ■ j Mr Esid (New South Wales) was prepared to risk his fiscal prinoiples in view of commanding the national destiny which they were called upon to realise. He had sufficient faith ihat his fitoal principles we.c secure. The Federal Parliament, iM»«at first, then afterwards, would come to believe more and more in the Adelaide scheme Although there was a clear cut opimor against it in the two Houses'in New Soutt Wales, he was convinced that it would hi infinitely better to leave the matter to th. Federal -Parliament, He *"Bgf I%^? should adopt the spirit of the New Souti • Wate Council's amendment, am simply confer power on the Oommonwealtl o r PaL revenue, pay "P^^f^ tribute the surplus. ' He believed the peopl. would accent the scheme if the members o the Convention showed that they had confi denca in it themselves. ■ Outside of Mr Keid's speech, the dehat to-day was of a most dreary description The delegates were entertained at banquet to-night. : .