AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11714, 23 April 1900, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION

Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright MELBOURNE, April* 22. (Received April 22, at 4.35 p.m.) / The Premiers' Conference . finished on Saturday night. It discussed four cables from Mr Chamberlain. The one dated the sth April is lengthy. It asks for an amendment relating to appeals to thel'rivy Council, because cases might affect other parts of the Empire, and the Government were considering a measure creating a court for the Empire. It also desired an amendment recognising colonial lav.-s validating an act making ultra vires Commonwealth law repugnant, to'" the" Imperial. They pressed the appeal amendment, but earnestly desired it carried flut in (iio manner most agreeable to Australian sentiment. Mr Chamberlain desired the Premiers to allow the delegates to consider the amendments. A.second cable, dated sth April, supports the Westralian claim because the bill vrould dislocate trade. As it was reasonable, and to prevent delay, Mr Chamberlain suggested a compromise allowing a change in the conditions, providing the Parliaments of the federating colonies severally passed resolutions. The cable (if the 16th urges that authority be given to the delegates to consult the Imperial C4overnment. The cable dated the 17th'April states that Now Zealand is. anxious for an amendment in the covering clauses of the bill, providing that Kew Zealand may federate within seven years rai the same terms as original States. Mr Chamberlain had replied that in the absence of expressions of Australian opinion the Government would not be justified in making it, and suggested that if (lie Prime Minister of New Zealand ..wishes to press it he should communicate witn the Ministers of the federating colonies. If they were favourable the Government ivere prepared 'to consider it. The Premiers cabled to were the Premiers of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania. The conference, having given full consideration to the despatches, reply: — First, while they fully recngnise the feeiing of the Imperial Government that vigilance on their part is essential in the interest of all parts of the Empire, and the importance of securing the inclusion of Westralia from the first, they cannot forget that by Enabling Acts and in pursuance of them the framing of the Constitution was expressly entrusted to a cr.-iventioii specially elected by the people, except Queensland and Westralia, and the final acceptance or rejection was remitted aho to the people. Secondly, that the question of appeal was, inter alia, considered by the Convention in Adelaide, no appeal bpirig allowed ; that at the Jubilee gathering the matter was referred to by the Secretary of State, "urging reconsideration; that the -subject was reconsidered by the Convention in Melbourne, and which resolved in the opposite direction ; that later the matter was again discussed, and the compromise in the 7>ill adopted; that it had been yet •again adopted at the Premiers' Conference prior to the last referendum ; that the vote of the electors adopted it by a large majority. They submitted that the subject; belonged very specially to the people, whoso only mandate to the Governments and Parliaments was to seek the bill's enactment by the Imperial Parliament in the form in which it was adopted by the people. Thirdly, i.,_e only alternatives suggested in the despatches were to amend the bill or postpone consideration. The Premiers do not hesitate to say the latter is much the more objectionable to Australians generally, even than the former. Fourthly, without disputing the constitutional power of the Imperial Parliament to amend the bill on its own responsibility, the Premiers respectfully urge that the views of the Australian people given m the bill as it stands should receive that favourable consideration which such a, weighty referendum demands! The Premiers do not consider themselves as having authority to accept any amendments. They hope Westralia. whose representatives assisted to frame the bill and in the Convention almost unanimously agreed to clause 95. may be urged to accept it as it stands. They think the bill already sufficiently provides for the admission of New ZeaJand. The resolutions were practically unanimous. LONDON. April 21. (deceived April 22, at 5.20 p.m.) t -Mr Beeves is urging that an open "door oe conceded to New Zealand in the Commonwealth Bill for a reasonable Period. Mr Chamberlain is disposed to <w &> if ; t does not necessitate a. further referendum He also thinks it important that some concess.on be mode to induce Westralia to join the federation. (Received April 22. at 5.25 p.m ) lie federal delegates meet in London on Monday to consider the decision* of the Premiers Conference. The Times expresses gratification that (he ditk'rer.ces on the Commonwealth Bill are disappearing, and says that the value of tlio Invy Council in its moderating influence is simply incalculable. The Times publishes cables horn Messrs Mnller ami Simpson, of Adelaide, baling that only lawyers were interested in the i'-Pl'Ml amendment. They add (hat thn Australian public had no opportunity of votmg for Novation with appeal to' th« Privy Council. SYDNKY, April 21. At a meeting of both prominent supporters and opponents of the Commonwealth Bill „ resolution was carried strong-wpm-mg the retention of the Privy Council appeal clause. ' A report of the decision arrived at wa. s forwarded to the PremiersConference. ADELAIDE. Am-il 21. Mr J. H. Symons. Q.C.. has .-.cam cabled The Times that his objection is°not due to parental prejudice, but to any amendment of the existing lav. without the people.-; concurrence by a direct vote. If any .amendment is otherwise imposed by Mr Chamhorbin the link between the Motherland and the colonies will become a galling chain. The Australasian National League hove cabled Mr Chamberlain that Mr Symons's cable to The Times is not representative. Influential and numerous sections have always favoured the right of appeal. and there is no public dissatisfaction at the Im-|K-rii>.l. Government's proposal. The league urge insistence upon the proposed amendment. KALGOORLIE. April 21 The GoldfWds Separation L^ne have wired the Premiers' Conference to the ofTect. that it is generally thought, even v Sir J. Forrest's amendment is agreed to. that acceptance of the bill by the°ma.jor:l v of the people is very doubtful. The chance

■WOLFK'S SCHNAPPS Is powerfully invigorntiiipr, perfectly pur« an.l vevy agreeab!.-:, arrests premature" <3«CAy" 'tA afTorcis suppc.rt and solaci to tl-e inQriji

of TVestralia joining as an original State lias decreased instead of increased. It is regarded as certain that the bill will be ( submitted to the people whether it is j amended or not. The goldfields people \ earnestly .desire intercolonial freetvade;. failing that1, they prefer a sliding scale to five years' fiscal slavery. j . : - —. _^