AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

DEFEATED IN NEW SOUTH

WALES.

CAERIED IN VICTORIA, TASMANIA, AND S. AUSTRALIA.

PREMATUHE UNFURLING OF THE FEDERAL FLAG.

THE MOVEMENT MAY PROCEED.

DISAPPOINTMENT IN BRITAIN.

Sydney, June 1.

A great pro-federation demonstration was held in the Town Hall last tight. A federal flag was presented to Mr E. Barton, Q 0., by the women of Australia, and was unfafled amidst much w.»thusiasm.

June 2.

Excitement runs bigh over the federation question. Two hundred meetings will be held to-night in view of the poll, which takes place to-morrow.

June 3, The Federal vote to-day was expected to be heavy and close. The Premier, Mr Reid, expressed the opinion that the necessary 80,000 votag would not be obtained, but the supporters of the bill were very sanguine of secuiing a majority. The weather was dall and showery, The Federal election was the tamest of tame affairp.

The voting in the city was light. Ifc was generally anticipated chat the city would vote heavily against the bill, while the country would vote solidly for it. The reverse proved to be the case. The ta&jority against the bill in Sydney was c»ly 679, while opinion in the country was very even.

The suburbs polled heavily against the measure. Bathura!-, which is a strong federal centre, upheld its reputation. Newcastle also declared for the bill.

Tremendous crowds thronged the streets at 8 o'clock. The Sydney Mornisg Herald's board announced that the 80,000 votes required had been cast for the bill, while the anti-Federal vote was several thousands behind. Thereupon Mr Barton and several other Federal leaders addressed the crowd congratulating them upon the accomplishment of union. " The federal flag was unfurled amid cheers ; but alas for their hopes ! The Herald through an error had added about 20,000 votes to each total. .

• At 10 30 the official figures were : For the bill, 71,139 ; against the bill, 66,640.

The chief returning officer states that even if the whole of the remaining returns to come are cast for the bill it will fail to obtain the 80,000 votes required.

No details of the Victorian polling are to hard, but the bill was carried there by 62,524 to 13,752

Tasmaniaa returns are incomplete. The minimum required there was 6000. Latest returns show : For the bill,- 6291 ; against the bill, 1983.'

June i.

The latest corrected official but. still incomplete figures are: For the bill, 68,283; against, 63,499. The Telegraph claims the defeat of the bill as a victory for a higher and truer federation, which the bill would have rendered impossible. The vote tore the snaky folds of a deadly provincialism from the federal principle, round which they had been wrapped by the convention, that represented parochial rather than the material aspirations of Australia. Federation now stands strengthened and revivified by the expressed determination of the people to stamp out any spurious thing that may attempt to falsify its purpose. The result has opened the way for union of all true Federalists and the production of a bill worthy of federation and Australia, and thoroughly adequate to the needs of a tree and progressive people.

The Herald congratulates the people on giving a substantiaf majority in favour of the bill and federation, but deplores the large number of people who did not vote. It says that the issue is now between the friends of federation and those who favour provincialism and disunion. The time has come for the Federalists of every party to close up their ranks and to carry the people's desire for unity into legislative effect. The mo-ifederation leaders claim a moral

victory. Now that a definite issue has been placed before the people they mean to figbt on in the hope of being able to gather the fruits at the coming general election.

The pro-federation leaders urge that the will of the people, as shown by the majority, was made abortive by raising the vote from 50,000 to 80,000, and that it will be necessary at the next general election to secure' the return of a Parliament of true Federalists, which will be charged with the duty of repealing the 80,000 votes clause of the act, and giving effect to the will of the majority of the voters.

June 5. I Mr Reid refuses to divulge his future intentions with regard to. federation till he has consulted his colleagues.

. Later, Vistoriau and Tasmanian returns give further increased majorities In favour of the bill.

- _ June 6. An analysis of the Federal'votingVhows that out of 39 electorates of the sitting members who favoured the bill 23 cast a majority for and 16 against. Of the 84 electorates whose members opposed the bill 42 cast a majority for 42 against. Mr Barton has received congratulatory telegrams from all parts of the colonies, and is being strongly urged to assume the leadership of the Protectionists and Federal campaign at the coming general election. '

Melbourne, June 2

The Premier of Canada has cabled to Sir G. Turner, conveying heartfelt withes of confederated Canada for the success of the Australian cause to-morrow.

Jane 4.

The latest figures are : For the bill, 91,958 ; sgainat, 20,723. The returns, however, are not complete.

After the result of the roticg in the colony was ascertained an immense and enthusiastic gathering was held in the Town Hall. Telegrams were sent to the Premiers of tha other colonies congratulating them on the victory gained for federation in Victoria and Tasmania.

Jane 5.

The Age, in a leader on the federal referendum, says : — Once again when the prospects of federation looked brightest the aspirations of Australians for a united country have been dashed to the ground by the unfraternal voting of New South Wales aird the treachery of that political Judas, Eeid. It partially attributes the 1 failure to New South Wales voters hsicg alarmed by Victorian OoncerTativea kystericaliy expressing a desire for federation at any price. It considers, even if Mr Barton is successful in bis federation campaign at the coming elections, Parliament will not be induced to repeal the 80,000 act.

The Argus considers the check by no means irreparable. It attributes the defeat to the unholy coalitions of Protectionists, ultra-Freetraders, property owners, crazysocialists, moneybags, and gutter snipes forming a strong alliance. It refers to "Mr Beid's inexplicable trimming, "which it is Impossible to justify and is difficult to understand. Such opposition cannot endure, because it is based on ignorance, bad feeling, or a misunderstanding.

Sir G. Turner, interviewed, said he would not take any action until he knew how the votes went in South Australia and Westralia. If Weatralia adopted the bill he would be inclined to go on with federation. He will be greatly guided by Mr Barton's wishes, but is opposed to holding another convention.

Adelaide, June S.

~ There was very little excitement over the federal referendum. The New South Wales vote bad a depressing effect. The women polled well. Latest official returns are : — For the bill, 25,774; against, 13,846. Many country returns are incomplete. Hobart, June 4. The rough totals are : For the bill, 10,709 ; against, 2532.

London, June 4.

British newspapers express disappointment at ths result of the Australian federal referendum. The Times says that the New South Wales vote has decidedly checked the movement. The issues are too vital to be decided in a single campaign. The Daily News fears federation- is doomed, and expresses surprise at the sraallness of the vote.

When Mr Reid, the N&w South Wales Premier,- tacitly agreed to an amendment by the anti-federalists increasing the number of votes necessary to adopt the bill to 80,000, ifc was generally believed that its fate had been settled, and such appears to have been the case. Then the Daily Telegraph turned from being a supporter of the bill to its bitterest opponent, and has unceasingly contended that New South Wales would be called upon to make financial sacrifices which were not justified. The juggling with figures which went on was quite bewildering. One of the most curious features of the campaign was the spectacle of the radical and republican paper the Bulletin fighting for federation with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Argus, while the Melbourne Age and the Sydney Telegraph were on the other side.