Federal Convention.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8620, 26 March 1897, Page 2

Federal Convention.

(Press Association.)

Adelaide, March 25. On the Federal Convention resuiniug this morning the President read a message from the Queen announcing that Her Majesty takes deep interest iv the proceedings, and hopes that under Divine guidance the labours of the Convention will result in practical benefits to Australia. The Secretary of State for the Colonies also added his own cordial wishes for the success of the Convention.

The representatives gave three cheers for the Queen, Mr Carruthers, of Sydney, resumed the debate on Mr Barton's resolution. He would like to see the foreign interests in New Guinea bought out by the Imperial authorities and. the island added to the Empire. If no power of | secession from the federation was granted then they must frame a constitution so elastic that it would not be possible for a civil war to result, as would be certainly possible it the constitution was framed as rigidly as some speakers wanted. Later. Continuing the debate after the luncheon adjournment, Mr Higgins (Victoria) considered it preposterous that four snlall colonies with one-third of the population should dominate the larger colonies in money Bills- He could not find an instance where small 1 States had been swamped in any existing federation, and he thought the . fears on the point were groundless. Mr Wise, of Sydney, defended equal representation of the colonies on the J grounds that it was an absolute necessity if the federation of Australia were to be brought about. Mr Henry, of Tasmania, said he thought the crux of the position was ! finance, and not whether there should , be equal representation. >.tI Mr Symons, of Adelaide, believed j the small States under the federation v would increase their prosperity and i population to a degieo they could now hardly conceive. The Convention adjourned till next day.