THIS FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2295, 24 February 1898, Page 17

THIS FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Melbourne, Fabruary 16. The financial clauses are still engaging the attention of the Federal Convention. Sonth Australia -wished the commonwealth to take over debss equal in value to auy buildings thar, may be taken for federal purposes. Tiiis desire has been conceded. Februrry 17. The convention adopted the Finance Committee's suggestion to continue fcr two years the duties on goods imported to a Srate in anticipation of a federal tariff and afterwards forwarded to another State, and to continue for five years an inter-State bookkeeping system after the adoption of a unitorm tariff. The clause limiting the ordinary federal expenditure to L 300.000 yearly was struck out by the conference. February 18. The Federal Convention discussed the details of a five years' bookkeeping scheme. An amendment was carried providing that the Federal Parliament should distribute the surplus as deemed f«ir in the place of the general terms previously employed, the idea being that discretion should be absolutely with the Federal Parliament, and the interpretation should not be the subject of appeal to the High Court. A proposal to make it compulsory to adopt a. per capita distribution after 10 years was rejected. The convention last night held its first evening sitting, which was devoted to consideration of the question of making up West Australia's losses under the Federal tariff. Fabruary 19. The problem of making up West Australia's anticipated losses occupied the whole of yesterday's sitting of the Federal Convention. No solution of the difficulty was arrived at. February 21. The Federal Convention agreed to allow West Australia to retain her intercolonial duties for five years, subject to a 20 per cent, reduction annually.