FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 16

FEDERAL CONVENTION.

TPIE COMMITTEE'S IIEPORT ADOPTED. Sydney, April 20. At the Federal Convention the mornirg was occupied over the method of the removal of judges from the bench. The bill provides for removal upon an address from both Houses. Sir John Downer suggested that, judges be impeached by the House and tried by the Senate, a two-thirds majority of the latter being required to secure a conviction, the suggestion was not acted on. The clause was amended by specifying misbehaviour and incapacity as grounds for removal. This afternoon an amendment to abolish [ finality of appeal to the Hi«h Court was defeated by three votes. S:r J. Abbott quoted from a letter written \>y the late Mr j Justice Richmond, of New Zealand, to the late Sir H. Parkes during the 1891 Convention urgirjg the retention of appeal to the Privy Council. Mr Carruthers regarded the proposal to dispense with appeal to the Queen as the first step towards eeparation from the mother country. The arguments advance by Mr Justice Richmond were arguments which could not lightly be- laid aside. The judicature clauses passed without important alteration. The concludicg chapters of the bill dealing with States is now under discussion. Adelaide, April 20. It seems that certain financial portions of the bill will not be accepted, and the only hope for federation lies in the chance of the Colonial Treasurers devUing some workable scheme acceptable to all the colonies. With the turn affairs have taken it is unlikely that the convention will finish before the end of the week. An amendment to give the Federal Government control of the railways was lost by 18 to 12. The powers of tb.B Executive Government were agreed to. April 21. At the Federal Convention last night the question of trie federal capital cropped up. Mr Barton (New South Wales) was inclined to the opinion, in order to avoid intercolonial jealousy, that 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 an interim place of meeting. The point was settled by a clause being passed leaving the decision to tha Federal Parliament. A proposal to secure the inalienation of federal lands was negatived by 21 to 13. The bill is now finished, with the exception of the financial clause and those dealicg with an amendment of the Constitution. The new financial scheme provides that accounts shall be kept between all the States of the customs due to each on home consumption for one year only — namely, the first year in which a uniform tariff prevails. A special concsssion will be made to New South Wales or in any case in which the other colonies rise tir fall above the average, ascertained on a population basis. For instance, if the average contributed was. 4.0s per head, then, if New South Wales contributed 50s, a sliding ecale would be adopted until at the end of five years, when a uniform per capita distribution was reached, the 10s due to New South Wales would be returned at the rate of 2s per year till 40s was reached. A similar process will be followed for bringing the other colonies up to the standard, so that Tasmania (with a contribution of 30i) would receive back more than she contributed. The Convention to-day adopted an address congratulatiHg the Queen on the completion of the sixtieth year of her reign. It was practically settled that the next Convention should sit in Sydney. The Committee took the postponed clauses of the bill into consideration. The duration of the House of Representatives was altered from four to three yeare, which was the term fixed by the 1891 bill. An amendment- to make the honorarium LSOO instead of L4OO was lost by 26 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 lawyers were to be included it would mean the loss of half their practice," said one member, bat Victorians shewed that the profession in that colony were debarred taking briefs on behalf of the Government under the same circiimstances. Mr Kingston wished to go further and prevent members of Parliament being shareholders in trading companies which might accept business from th« Government, but Mr M'Millan protested against what wou'd practically shut out, j active-minded men from public life. The amendment was carried, bu j Mr Kingston's suggestion was not entertained. j The Committee this afternoon debated the new financial clau«es and resolved that i during the first three yeara after the establishment of the Csmmonwealth the yearly expenditure should not exceed j L 300.000 and the total yearly expenditure of the Commonwealth in the performance of services and the exercise of the powers transferred from the State to the Commonwealth should not exceed one million and a-quarter. The principle of the new clause is on the lines forecasted this morning. After some debate the tew clauses framed by the Treasurers dealicg with the distribution of the surplus paesed without amendment. In the debate on the financial clauses, Mr Fysh said that, while admitting that at the end of five years the position of Tasmania would be equal to that of any other colony in regard to the return of the surplus meanwhile the colony would be left practically high and dry. The individual State should receive during five years a sum not less than the sum she wonld have received in the yeaf prior to the imposition of uniform duties, Mr Reid thought Mr Fy3h's argument practically worthless, seeing that no one could tell what the uniform tariff would be. He recognised that the interests of some States migh be jeopardised for a time ; still, it was the only chance to bring about federation. The scheme was one which substantially got over the difficulty with a minimum of inconvenience, and was the scheme he was best able to ask the people of New South Wales to accept.

Under the Enabling Act the second Con ventk n must meek within 120 days. As Messrs Reid and Kingston will bs able to return from England within that period, if it dates from the conclusion of the present gathering, it has been arranged to formally adjourn to May 5. Mr Kingston said the South Australian delegates would meet on that date, and adjourn the Convention to September 2, at Sydney. April 22. Whether the Commonwealth should or should not take over the public debts greatly exercised the committee. The bill provides I the optional taking over of debts or any part of the debt of any State with the consent of its Parliament. Mr Turner ("Premier of Victoria) and Sir John Downer (South Aus ralia) wished the whole debt to bo taken iustead of a selection being permissible. Ultimately it was decided to give the Federal Parlia- j ment the power to take any debt without obtaining the consent of the local Parliament. With the exception of one or two postponed clauses, the financial section of the Commonwealth Bill is finished. The New South Wales Premier (Mr Reid) has returned to Sydney to prepare for the opening of the New South Wales Parliament, and several other delegates have "left for their homes. The Convention's address to the Queen expressed the hops that the federation of the Australian colonies would be a lasting monument of the sixtieth year of her Majesty's reign. I The members are beginning to drift home- j ward. Another detaohment leaves to-day. '• The work of the Convention will probably , conclude to-night or to-morrow. j A hitch has arisen in connection with the j arrangement to adjourn till May 5. The fact that Mr Kingston would have left for England before that date was overlooked, therefore it is impossible to meet and adjourn in the absence of the president. The powers proposed to be given to the Inter-State Commission dealiDg with railway rates was a fruitfnl source of discussion to-day. Instead of laying down definite rules for the guidance of the commission it was decided to leave Parliament to determine the powers which would best safeguard j freedom of trade between the State?. It ' was sought to give power to any State to prevent the admission of opium and alcohol within its border. This idea bumped up against the intention of having absolute free trade between the States, and the inclusion of Huch subjects, it was said, would raise contentions and issues when the Constitution came before the people for discussion. Ifc was not considered wise to give States j power to cv(, off what must be a very large source of revenue to tha Commonwealth. On the other hand, there was nothing to prevent a State prohibiting the sale of these articles within its boundaries, so that it was hard to see how the Commonwealth would bs any worse off if it gave tha S^ate power to prohibit the importation, The committee eventually declined to give such power. A proposal to provide againaf. deadlocks, introduced by Mr Wise, to the that if the Senate rejects any measure passed by the House, and again rejects it after the House has gone to the country on the question, the Governor-general may dissolve the Senate, was rejected by 19 to 11. ! Another proposal, submitted by Mr Isaacs, providing tbat if either House rejecfß a bill twice in successive sessions a referendum may be taken, but to secure an affirmative votß it would require a majority of the people in si majority of the State 3 and a ! majority also in the Commonwealth, was re- ■ jected by IS to 13. April 23. Last night a new clause prohibiting judges from occupying any executive or legislative '\ office was carried. j Tne proposal to federalise the railways ! was withdrawn. ! The clauso requiring communications '• between the Ssate Governor and the Queen \ to pass through the Governor-general was negatived. A provision was inserted forbidding any ; person to vote more than once at any federal ! election. j Mr P. M. Glyn (South Australia) moved ; the inclusion in the pieamble of the words " invoking Divioe Providence," so tbat the Constitution should recogaipe the supremacy of God. After discussion, Mr Glyn offered to withdraw his proposal, but Sir W. A. Zeal (Victoria) objected to this course, and the amendment was negatived. The bill was then taken out of committee amid much cheering. The Convention has adjourned till to- ; morrow afternoon, when the proceedings will close. Mr Baker was appointed to act as president in the absence of Me K-ngafcon. j Mr Birton moved —"That the Convention at its rising on May 5 adjourn till September 2."—Carried. On the motion of Sir G. Turner, it was decided that the nexb session of the Convention ehould be held io Sydney. Several clauses of the bill were recommitted, but no substantial amendments were made. Mr Barton movetf —" That the report be ! adopted." He congratulated the Convention, and believed the results had been to produce a reasonable prospect of federation. Many speeches complimentary to Mr Barton and hopeful of the realisation of federation were made. Sir E. N. Braddon regretted that the bill I was not one which would defy rather than I invite criticism. I The motion was carried, and a copy ordered to be snnt to the G >vernor for transmission to the Secretary of State. The Convention concluded with cheers for the Queen.

The Akaroa Mail hears that Mr W. H. Montj gomery, M H.R., is goinct t'j England bo be present at the Record Reign celebrations. He leaves by the s.s. Ruahine. Stubborn as a mule, aad so is your cough, One day you fancy it's better; the next it's just as bad. Seme think coughs are best left j alone, but it often proves a fatal misbake. A ! cough should never be allowed to get a firm | hold of the system. Bonwington's Carrageen I or Irish Moss, i» the surest remedy, and should be taken without delay. —Advfc.