THE FEDERATION CONVENTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2357, 31 March 1897, Page 2

THE FEDERATION CONVENTION.

■ . » ' Pbb Elbcteio Telegraph— Uopxright, » Pbr Press Association. j Adelaide, March 30. In order to close the debate early the Convention have decided to sit to-night. In continuing the debate Mr Reid, of Sydney, said that they could see their • way to save at least £50,000 compared " with the financial scheme propounded ? m the 1891 Bill. He saw no difficulty - m regard to the franchise of the Senate. If they wished to make it a strong body they would not follow the example of America. If they wished to see the Senate a powerful check its election should be based on the will of the people. He thought there was enough difference . between the two Houses, by the election of one by the districts and r the other from the States. The right

which was the legitimate right mn be placed m the Constitution, would be absolutely impossible to c more than lay down sound gener principles. They must equally rely c the wisdom and justice of those formii the Federal Parliament. When State ii terests were concerned they would ha^ similarly to trust the commonwealtl There was a difficulty as to the execi tive responsibility, and a difficulty as t the rights of the two Houses.; The must hit upon such a solution as woul commend itself to the people of allth colonies. In an eloquent peroration M Eeid commended the Britjsh Constitt tion as against the American, and urge them to follow the lines of a Constitu tion which had preserved the power c Britain against all the changes of time Another great argument m favour c auch a course was that it was the mode from which the various colonial Con •titutions had been taken. In regard t the power of the Senate over mone; Bills, they must deviate from the Britisl Constitution. The Lords made no pre tpnee at amending or rejecting mone; Bills, but if federation was to be brpugh about the Senate must have somi power. He was prepared to deviate ai far as possible to meet the yiewi of the smaller States. On the questior of finances this federation must not b( strictly limited, and there must.be 1 reserved power m the Constitutor which would enable the Senate, based on equality of the States, to veto injustice. Therefore . they must have a real living right to exercise the power oi rejecting anything which permitted any serious wrong or injustice -even to grant them power to throw out the appropriation. If a method was provided to deal with deadlocks, he would be sorry to see the referendum instituted over internal difficulties — over possibly some small matter which their own good sense ought to be able to arrange The re^ ferendum was an extreme power to be held m reserve for extreme cases. With regard to finance, the interest on the public debts was mo c than sufficient to absorb any surplus that might accrue. He thought that some provision should be made to limit the expenditure of the federation. He had changed his mind as to the necessity for handing over the railways. With one or two exceptions Mr Bruce pinned his faith to the '91 Bill. He was orry the Convention had not prepared to deal m the open light of day and .amend the Bill which with the exeeptidh of finance was a perfect basis for amendment and settlement. He approved of the Court of Appeal submitted m a draft Bill. If it was to be a Court of Appeal at all it must be . final ; if not it was simply adding another pitfall to the unfortunate individual Who was compelled to litigate. One of the most essential things was the establishment of intercolonial freetrade. They must provide that hostile tariffs should not remain m existence for indefinite periods. Unless the federal parliament tied down j the States to adopt an uniform tariff within a reasonable period federation would be a sham. They must provide m the constitution a liberal time m which intercolonial freetrade shall commence. During the course of his speech yesterday Sir P. O. Fysh hoped that, if the Australian debts were consolidated, the Federal Parliament should exercise come control over State borrowing, and that the latter should lay their case before a higher Government. Sir J. Forrest met with a great reception. "While he did not deprecate the debate which had taken place, he thought the Convention should go into committee on the Commonwealth Bill. The Western Australia delegates are very irate at the procedure practically excluding them from the committee on the Bill. Had the Commonwealth Bill been gone on with it would be m committee now. As they were bound to leave on the 14th, the Convention would not be ready to go into committee before they left. . . //,