THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 94, 27 April 1900, Page 3

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. [By Eleotrio Telegraph.—Gopybight.] (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) I Receivea 27, 1.50 u.m. Melbourne, April 26. The proposal made by Mr. Chamberlain that the Commonwealth Bill should be altered to provide that the Colonial Laws Validity Act of 1865 should apply to the laws of the Federal Parliament is of much greater importance than the Premiers Conference was at firsi prepared to admit. Inquiry shows that Canada does not allow that the Ac: should apply to the Dominion so far as it relates to Imperial Acts passed prior to the federal constitution. The Premier has cabled to Mr, Deakin that if this contention is correct the proposed amendment would have the effect oi seriously curtailing the legislative powers of Commonwealth, The Attorney-General points out that Mr. uh..mbe;laiu't> proposal would seem to indicate that the dolegates are willing to concede that the framers of the constitution intended the Act should appiy, although no such intention was expressed in the constitution, and expresses the opinion that the attitude adopted by Canada is one of fundamental importance, and that it is a position from wfajcj) Australia yvji] )>e

I excluded if Mr. Gbamberlam'ti alteration is embodied in the Imperial Act. COLONIAL INSTITUTE BANQUET. A BRILLIANT SPEBCH. (Receired 27, 1.50 a.m.) London, April 26. At the Colonial Institute banquet, Lord Onslow presiding, Lords Hopetoun and Strathcona, Mr. W. P. Reeves, and the other Agents-General were present. The Hon. W. P. Deakin was the only Federal delegate who attended. He made a brilliant defence of the appeal clause, and promised if the Government passed the Bill and created an Imperial Court that the Federal Parliament would willingly legislate to recognise the tribunal. The recent strengthening of the Privy Council justified the belief in its weakness, which belief was further proved by Mr. Chamber lain's proposal to amalgamate the Lords' Judicial Committee. The gathering was deeply impressed by Mr. Deakin's eloquence, and his arguments were loudly cheered.