THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2293, 10 February 1898, Page 17

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Melbourne February 1.

The Federal Convention rejecter] the proposal to permit the Chief Justice of the Federal Court to hold the position of Lieu-tenant-governor in the absence of the Gi7error-ganeral. Au effort to restrict anyone holding parliamentary office from occupying the lieuteaancy v?as also rejected.

The debate on the water quesfioa was resumed. Mr O'Connor, in order to meet the desires of South Australia, mads a proposal to strike out the clausa giving the Commonwealth control over she navigation and n=;e of the w^ter of rivers, so that the Bubaection dealing with the regulation of trade aud commerce among the States should tos relied on to give tfie Federation all the powers that were necessary. The debate is proc«ading;.

February 2,

The financial clauses of the Federation Bill are unlik«ly to be r^ady before Eext ■wsek'. Ifc ia understood that they provide for five years' bookkeeping batvveaa tha colonies, with sp»cial concsasions to Weatralia at the end of five years. Federation must provide a echsma of distribution of the customs Buvplus in cases where goods imported into New South W?l*b und^r Freetrade are sant into tha adjoining States, as it is proposed for some titna to charge federal duties on thorn.

The water question was under discussion all day. Mr Keid pointed out that the New Sonth Wales Governmeat received millions for the fiontage on the Eiver Darling on the understanding that the use cf the waters would be secured to put chasers. Any attempt to get Nsw b'outh Wales to givs tip the absolute ownership of the Darling and Murray Rivers must fail. In regard to the latter river, he was willing to give ap as much as necessary to South Australia. After a long discas-sion ifc was dscided on the voices to strike out the clause dealing with tha control of navigation and irrigation. V&iioug ameedfficnts yet remain to be dealt with.

February 3.

The debate in the Federal Convention oa riparian rights, which so far has given rise io the bitterest fight in tho federal movement, absorbed i,he attention of ths Convection all day. Amendments to get orer the difficulty were before the caramittes in galore. Nonß s£ them met with the approval of the New South Wales representatives, who took a determined stand in defence of their rights. Mr Reid strosgly resisted amendments giving an later-S-ate Commission or the Fedoral Parliament control in the matter. He thought that the Federal Court was sufficient to deal with any dispute which might arise, instead of referring it to a political tribunal. Nw South Wales had always treated the colonies in matters sha had absolute rights over in a friendly, generous way. He thought it a sinister motion to remove water disputes from tha jmisdiciion of the Federal Court. Mr Barton said all such disputes should be settled by the High Court, not by thg Federal Parliament. What they came thore for was to tru3t tha federation with federal matters, not to trust them -with purely provincial one?. Tha claim made wsa not the surrender of rights, bufc the taking of them. He relied oa the jnstice of the Convention to prevent any attempt to take away the rights of Naw South Wales, and he would resist such to the bitter end. The adj'>urame»fc hour arrived without the problem being in sight of solution.

February 4.

The Fadsral ComniSttee, on the castiag vote o£4;he chairman, carried an amendment giving ths control ovar the Murray and Urling R ; verß as far as ia necessary to the improvement of thsir navigability, bnt so that no S -ate ehall be prevented from using any of the waters of such rivers for conservation and irrigation. Mr R^,id, in a hot Bpeech, said it was a clear attempt to take awsy the rights of New South Wales. Tha interference with 1300 miles o.? her rivers would not be toleratsd, and the dsstiny of the continent might be wracked for tbe Bake of a few wool bargss paseinglnto South Australia. Whenthemotion for the ingerfcion of the amendment was put it was rejected by 24 to 16. Sir Reid moved an amendmeat that no Soate or citizen shall be prevented from using &nj such waters for the purpose of irrigation or water conservation. He said if bis amendment waa not carried he would be unable to use his icfla<snce in Naw South Walea to get the electors to accept; the bill. The discussion reas not finished when the adjournment hour arrived.

February 7.

At the Poderal Conventioß, Mr Reid withdrew hiu amendment on tha Convention rescinding the amendment made by South Australia, referring to the term " navigability," the passing -of which Mr Rsid contended rendered hia amsndmenfr necessary. The decision was only carried on tha casting vote of the chairman. Sir G. Turner -wished to sea the matter finally settled. Ha practically moved Mr Reid's amendment, which was negatived by 35 to 8. It is likely ths matter will agaia crop up later.

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