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4/7° Victoria, 1883.

A DRAFT BILL To constitute a Federal Council of Australasia.

WHEREAS it is expedient to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia, for the purpose of dealing with such matters of common Australasian interest, in respect to which united action is desirable, as can be dealt with without unduly interfering with the management of the internal affairs of the several Colonies by their respective Legislatures : Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the consent of Her Lords Spiritual and Temporal in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :—- -1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise require, the following terms shall bear the meanings set opposite to them respectively— " Colonies" —The Colonies of Fiji, New Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, and the Province of South Australia, and their respective Dependencies, or those of the said Colonies in respect to which this Act is in operation; "Crown Colony"—Any Colony in which the control of public officers is retained by Her Majesty's Imperial Government; "Her Majesty's Possessions in. Australasia "■—The Colonies and their dependencies, and such other territories as Her Majesty may from time to time declare by proclamation; " Council" —The Federal Council as hereby constituted; " Governor" —The Governor Lieutenant-Governor or other Officer administering the Government of the Colony referred to with the advice of his Executive Council except in the case of a Crown Colony in which case the word shall mean the Governor Lieutenant-Governor or such other officer alone. 2. There shall be in and for Her Majesty's possessions in Australasia a Federal Council, constituted as hereinafter provided, and called the Eederal Council of Australasia, which shall have the functions, powers, and authority, hereinafter defined. 331—C 3.

Preamble.

Interpretation.

Federal Council to be constituted.