PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 52

P ATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

The Commemvealtli of Australia. As you^know, perhaps, some years ago the Idea of Federation of tha Australian colonies was mooted. Many poobpoohed the idea, but it has new reaolved itself into something tangible. When we look at the Dominion of Canada, the United States, Germanic Federation, and the Federal Government of Switzerland, in each of which so many conflicting interests have -been welded together, we cannot help' thinking that the difficulties surrounding an Australian Federation must vanish too. These four federations show most emphatically. the> benefits of combination, and the 'successes and failures connected with them bave enabled Australian statesmen — for Australia Jias statesmen — to draw up a. Constitution that commends itself to most who have the future welfare of Australia at heart. The last meeting of delegates has brought the -subject within the range of practical Politics, for on Friday, June 3, the colonies Df New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania hava decided to take a vote notifying ihe acceptance or rejection of the Commonwealth Constitution, just drawn up. South Australia takes the vote on the 4tb, in agreement with a law in force there that all elections are to take ; place on a Saturday ; and Western Australia, the remaining colony represented at the final conference, cannot take a vote on the question until a resolution providing for a poll has been passed by its Legislature.

The Victorian Government has decided that every elector in the colony shall have lent to him by tbe Government printer a complete copy of the Constitution. At first It was proposed to annotate it, but it was then thought that many might think the official explanations biassed, so ib is to be ■posted in text only. This will necessitate the printing and posting of about a quarter Of a million copies.

To me the application of the referendum ' to this question is a landmark in the history 'hi our colonies ; and lam only sorry Nfew Zealand has not bsen represented, for I don't Ihink she can afford to be left out. lam hoping that in the near future ib will be found necessary to change the name " Auslialian " to " Australasian."

Now let ms try to give you a general idea Dt the Constitution. It can only be a general Dne, for the text, with abont an equal space for notes by Dr Quick, fills a two-paged supplement of the Argus published on Aprii 6.

Tins name

There is no reason why it shouldn't bo called "The Dominion of Australia " or " The United States of Australia " ; hut Sir Henry Parkes in the Convention of 1891— was that the Convention that put to sea to keep its fleliberations secret I—recommended1 — recommended " The Commonwealth of Australia," and it has been generally accepted as sufficiently comprehensive and appropriate a name to designate the Federal Union.

THE CREATION.

On the Constitution being accepted by the Connies, tbe Queen within a year shall issue ii proclamation announcing the formation of the Commonwealth, and shall be at liberAy to appoint a Governor-general forthwith at a salary in tbe meantime of £10,000 a year; and he on arrival shall appoint his first Administration, and hold the first election , under the Constitution, such election to take place within six months of the Constitution hy her Majesty.

THE FEDERAL PA PX LAMEST

}v to consist of two< Houses — an Upper House, . mown as the Senate ; and a Lower one, called the House of Representatives.

Tbe Senate is to consist of an equal nucaber of senators elected by eacb State (colony) — in the first instance six; and each State jhall elect its six as if it were one electorate. So at first the Senate will consist of 30 ienators, and these shall sit six years. In the first Senate half tbe number has to re-

I sign afc the end of three years, for it ia proposed to retire one-half the number fcriexinially • this will make the chamber a continuous body, and at the same time provide for a change — but not too rapid a one — in public opinion. Both senators atsd M.HR.'s are to be elected by manhood suffrage. Speaking generally, the Sanato has no right to originate or alter bills dealing with money matters, though it may originate bills in which taxation is involved. One-tbird of the members must be present to form a quorum. I The House of Kspresentatives shall, &s nearly as possible, consist of twice aa many members as the Senate, and these members shall be returned by the States in numbers in proportion to their population. This works out at present as a member for every 53,000 people. So afc the outset the Parliaments will stand as follows :—: — Senators. M.H.E..'s. New South Wale 3 ... 6 ... 25 Victoria 6 ... 22 Sonth Australia 6 ... 7 Western Australia ... 6 ... 5 Tasmania 6 ... 5 Afc each election the latest statistics are to be used as tbe basis; and in making the division, if the remainder is over haifjoi the'dtvision, an extra member is to be added. Too House of Espresentatives may be dissolved by the Governor-general afc any time, but cannot last longer than three, years. DEADLOCKS. When there are two chambers ifc has often happened thafc an antagonism resulting in a deadlock has exit-tsd, and ibis has caused much irritation — so much so thafc impatient fclk have clamoured for tbe abolition of the obstructing chamber, generally the Upper one. In ths Commonwealth Constitution provision has been made for getting rid of thiß stoppage of business, but at the same time a check is put on hasty legislation. When a bill is passed by ths Lower House and vetoed by the Upper House, three months are to elapse ; the bill is then passed a second time and sent up. If ths Upper House still refuses to pass it or make amendments that the Lower House can agree to, then both He uses may be dissolved by the Governor-general, and a federal election will then take place on the question afc issue. The Lower House then passes ifc again, and sends it forward. If the Upper House is atil recalcitrant the Gjvernor-'general may convene a joint meeting of the two Houses, and if the bill is then passed by a threefifths majority of members present it is to be presented to the Governor-general for the Qneen's assent. Bat he may not sign it, but reserve it for the Queen's pleasure, and her Majesty may exercise her prerogative acd refuse to sign ifc ; or tbe Governor- general may sign it— even then the Queen can annul the law, providing it is done within a year of the time her representative signs ifc.

Remember, T am only giving a general outline. There are many details containing very material modifications.

I shall probably have a little more to say on this subject nexb week, for I have taken only a few of the salient points prominent in the bill.