Australian Federation

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9619, 23 April 1900, Page 3

Australian Federation

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

THE PREMIERS' REPLY.

[Pkr Press Association—Coptright.]

MELBOURNE, April 22. The Premiers' Conference finished on Saturday night. They discussed four cables from Mr Chamberlain dated fifth April, asking for amendment relating to the appeal to the Privy Council because the cases might affect other parts of the Empire and the Government was considering a measure for creating Courts of Appeal for the Empire. They also desired an amendment recognising colonial laws invalidating or making as ultra vires *the Commonwealth law repugnant to the Imperial Government. They pressed the appeal amendment but earnestly desired it to be carried, out most agreeably to Australian sentiment and desired the Premiers to allow the delegates to. consider the.-, amendment. The second cable of the sth April •supports the Westralian claim, because the Bill would dislocate trade,as reasonable. To prevent delay he suco-ested a compromise allowing a change of conditions. providing the Parliaments of the Federating colonies severally passed the resolutions. The cable of the sixteenth; urged that authority should be given to the delegates to consult the Imperial Government. The cable on the seventeenth, New Zealand was anxious for an amendment in the covering clauses of the Bill, providing ;tha,t New Zear land may federate within seven years on the same terms as original states. Ho had replied that in the absence of expressions of Australian opinion the Government would not be justified in making it: He* suggested if the Prime Minister of New Zealand wished to press it he should communicate with the Ministers of the Federating Colonies and if they were favorable the Government was prepared to consider it. The Premier cabled as follows:- — The Premiers of New South Wales, Viojria, Queensland, South Australia v and Tasmania, in conference assembled, having given full consideration to the despatches, reply. First: While they fully recognise the feeling of the Imperial Government that vigilance on their part is essential to the interests of all parts of the Empire, and the importance of securing the inclusion of Westralio from the first, cannot forget that by the Enabling Acts and in pursuance of them, the framing, of the constitution was expressly entrusted' to Convention specially elected by the people—except Queensland and Westralia and its final acceptance or rejection was remitted also to the peoP Second: That.the question of appeal inter alia, was considered by the Convention at Adelaide, no appeal being allowed; that at the Jubilee the matter was referred to by the Secretary of State urging a reconsideration ; that the subject was reconsidered by the Convention in Melbourne and a resolution earned in the opposite direction; that the other matter had again been discussed and a compromise in the Bill adopted; that it had been yet again adopted by the Premiers' Conference prior to the last referendum; that the vote of the electors adopted it by a large majority. They submitted the subject belonged very specially to the people whose only mandate to the Governments and Parliaments was to seek the Bill's enactment by the Imperial Parliament in the form in which it was adopted by the people.

Third:- The only alterations suggested .in the despatches were .to amend the Bill or postpone its consideration. The Premiers do not. hesitate to sa,y that the latter would be much more objectionable to Australians generally than the formerFourth: Without disguising the constitutional power of the Imperial Parliament to amend the Bill on its own responsibility, the Premiers respectfully urge that the views of the •Australian people given on the Bill should receive that favorable consideration which, such a weighty referendum demands. The Premiers do not consider themselves as having authority to accept any amendments. They hope that Westralia, whose representatives assisted to'frame the Bill and in the convention almost unanimously agreed to - clause: ninetyfive, may be urged to accept it as it stands. They think the Bill already sufficiently provides" for the admission of New Zealand. _ The resolutions were practically unanimous. _^