Australian Federation

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9618, 21 April 1900, Page 3

Australian Federation

[Per Pbess Association— Copyright. MELBOURNE, April 20.

Owing to the non-arrival of a c<\ ble from Mr. Barton, the Premiers Conference was unable to make an; progress. - They expect the cable to night, and to conclude their labor

to-morrow. They were entertained at luncheoi to-day by the Mayor of Melbourne. In the course of a speech outliri ing the position taken up, Mr. Lyn< said they had to be careful not to dt anything to jeopardise the bill. H( opposed granting further concession- j to WestraliaV ' Messrs. Philp and Lewis favorer the retention of the appeal to th< Privy Council, and the admission" o ;AVeatralia as an original State.' ' ' Mr. Holder declared for the bill a 1 it stood, pointing oufc thajtit wa* only: Mr. Chamberlain, not the Imperial" Parliament, who wanted th< amendments. Mr. McLean .said .he felt .-it was hi: duty to stick to the bill exactly as i stood, but he was not'(prepared t< push his views to such an extent 'a* to delay, or ;jeopardise its passage. Briefly put, therefore, thepositioi- j taken up by-the conference* is ,tha; the bill, as ai Whole, if possibleshould be passed. If not thePrhn Council appeal must be added. ■ '•' SYDNEY, April 21. A' meeting of both prominent sup porters and opponents of the Com .momvealth Bill carried a resolutioi strongly fairing the retention of th< Privy Council appeal/ The resolutior j was forwarded to the Premiers' Con ference. :.'-: ' , , • . ADELAIDE, April 21. Mr. Symons has cabled to the Time? that his objection, is not parental prejudice, but to the amendment of the existing law 1 without the people's con ourrence by ■ direct voice. If . other wise imposed Mr. Chamberlain's link will become a. galling chain. . ' The Australian National League hap j cabled to Mr. Chamber] iin that Mr Symons' cable to the Times was noi! representative. .An influential and ; numerous section always favored the right of appeal, and there' was no public dissatisfaction! with! the' Imperial Government proposal. They urge, on the amendment.