FEDERATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3220, 26 March 1900, Page 2

FEDERATION.

United Press A ssociation— By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Received March 24th, 9.20 a.m. Sydney, March 24, The Daily Telegraph in a leader warmly resents Mr Reeves' action in respect to the Commonwealth Bill. It says that the real interest of the thing lie_a in Mr Seddon wanting amendments allowing States now Btanding aloof to enter on the same terms as the original States. That would be a hotchpotch form of federation which the Imperial Parliament should not accede to. The Telegraph asks : " Why did Mr Seddon not reveal the objections while the Constitution was under consideration ; or, at least, before the delegates sailed ? All along we have been asked to regard New Zealand as definitely standing out." ; Meujoubne, March 24. The Age says that the part played by New Zealand will hardly be regarded as friendly by the colonies which have, done all the hard work of furthering the union. Mr Reeves understands his success to mean the reopening of the whole matter. Had New Zealand earned the 1 right to lay down conditions by taking • a fair share of the deliberations and difficulties faced by the mainland ' colonies, she would have known enough K of the jealousies and divisions that exist % to make further delay a real danger. The Age asks by what right can a colony 1 that has done nothing to further the ; federal movement step in at the last moment and attempt to dictate the terms upon which others should unite. The federating colonies certainly desire a friendly arrangement, bat kuow the risks of further cobbling. That is the reason why they demand the Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill. Received March 24th, 9.50 a.m. Perth, March 24. The Premier has received a cable from Mr Parker, stating that he is not acting in concert with Mr Reeves. Sir J. Forrest has wired to Mr Lyne that he regrets that Mr Barton made such a representation as may cause the inference that Western Australia is intriguing to create difficulties. It is absolutely without foundation. Sir J. Forrest desires to act in a most friendly way with the other colonies. . Received, March 25th, 4.50 p.m. , London, March 24. The legal members of the Federal Delegation have prepared and all adopted a memorandum for submission through Mr Chamberlain to the Cabinet, defining their position. They state that they have no authority to go behind the referendum vote. The Bill was subjected to criticisms and to close, elaborate, legal analysis, questioning the LawOfficers' conclusions. The delegates say that a generous Parliament will respect every line and letter of the constitution, also of the covering clauses. If Australians were considered fit to make a constitution surely their Judges are its best interpreters and more familiar with its working than Judges at a distance. The rights of the rest of the Empire are not prejudiced. The memorandum concludes with a strong appeal to trust the British race, which, neither in Australia nor elsewhere, ever abused the confidence reposed in them, This trust is the real bond of the Empire. (