FEDERAL CONVENTION IN SYDNEY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9035, 18 March 1891, Page 2

FEDERAL CONVENTION IN SYDNEY.

ISOME STRONG LANGUAGE, [per pruks association. I Sydney, March 17.— At the Convention j to-day the discussion was of a desultory 1 character, but resulted ia the "States Right" party gaining a decided point. The discussion was continued with great vigour. Sir H. Parkes regarded the views expressed by some of: "the delegates as simply monstrous, and he mentioned that neither Mr Cockbura (South Australia), nor Mr Forest (YVestern Australia) had risen to the height of Federation. They could only see their own colonies, and could only look for loose federation. If this latter were accomplished, he would certainly retire. His object was to have a form of Union for Australia. A loose federation lie looked up as a retrograde stop, and a disastrous one to New South Wales, which ha-1 taken a generous course in regard to Federation, and made no stipulation. It wns a very difficult matter to deal with gentlemen who could onty see the question from the part of the colony they represented. Unless they sought as Australians without reference to New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, or any other mdi idual colony, and create one Government for Australia no conclusion would be arrived at ; but despite their efforts to provent Federation being brought about it could not be kept in the back ground. Tt must come sooner or later. The constitution must be of a practical cliarac tor. If it wan expected to stand the test of time he thought they ought to take as their guiding light the experience held out to them by England and not the experience offered to them by any other country. The light held up by America and Switzerland would not suit the people of Australia. English statesmen had said that the question of imposing taxation should rest with the House of Commons, and he considered the people of Australia would make a great mistake if they di«l not preserve that form of Government in full, it being the best obtainable. There could bo no objection taken as to the formation of the House. It was sought to create a Senate consistent with the Democratic tendencies of the Colonies, and that brought them to the rock which had been the cause of some trouble. The suggestion that a Senate was not to represent the people of Australia but large and small States alike, and that it was to have power to deal with money bills was tho rock on which many of the delegates had stuck. Ho sincerely hoped some better understanding would be arrived at. Sir George Grey said that if they would leave the minor details alone, and take anyone of the Federal Constitutions which were in existence, and trace out how far they were applicable to requirements of this country then they would be able to build up one of their own. They could do this in a week. He hoped they would proceed without further waste of time. He was mortified at the opinion expressed that it would ba necessary to go to to a distant country fora constitution overlooking men who had worked out the progress of this country, and who were quite capable of framing a constitution to suit the wants of Australia. After somo discussion Mr Downer's amendment to omit the word '•' and amend" in the sentence of tho resolution, and possess the sole right of originating and amending all bills appropriatin/r revenue and imposing taxation was put, and carried. The resolutions was then passed as amended, and the convention adjourned till to-morrow.