A.—s

1898. NEW ZEALAND.

CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA BILL, COPY OF THE) AS FRAMED AND APPROVED BY THE AUSTRALASIAN FEDERAL CONVENTION AT ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 22nd MARCH TO 23rd APRIL, 1897, WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES BY DOCTOR QUICK (OF VICTORIA), A MEMBER OF THE CONVENTION, AND R.R. GARRAN, ESQ., BARRISTER-AT-LAW (OF NEW SOUTH WALES).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives, by Leave.

Copy of Federal Constitution under the Crown, framed and approved by the Australasian Federal Convention, at Adelaide, South Australia, 22nd March to 23rd April, 1897. E. G. BlaokXiobe, Clerk. 0. C. Kingston, President. DRAFT OF A BILL TO CONSTITUTE THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTBALIA. Preamble. WHEBEAS the people of [Hera name the colonies which have adopted the Constitution} have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom o? Great Britain and Ireland, and under the Constitution hereby established: And whereas it is expedient to make provision for the admission into the Commonwealth of other Australasian Colonies and possessions of Her Majesty : Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in the present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :— Short Title. 1. This Act may be cited as " The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia." Act to bind Crown. Application of provisions shall extend to the Queen's successors. 2. This Act shall bind the Crown, and its provisions referring to Her Majesty the Queen shall extend to her heirs and successors in the sovereignty of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia. Power to proclaim Commonwealth of Australia. 3. It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and with the advice of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, to declare by Proclamation that, on and after a day therein appointed, not being later than six'months after the passing of this Act, the people of [Here name the colonies which have, adopted the Constitution] (hereinafter severally included in the expression " the said colonies") shall be united in a Federal Constitution under the name of " The Commonwealth of Australia ; and on and after that day the Commonwealth shall be established under that name. Commencement of Act. 4 Unless it is otherwise expressed or implied, this Act shall commence and have effect on and from the day so appointed in the Queen's Proclamation; and. the name "The Commonwealth of Australia" or " The Commonwealth " shall be taken to mean the Commonwealth of Australia as constituted under this Act. " States." 5. The term " The States " shall be taken to mean such of the Colonies of New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, and the Province of South Australia as for the time being form part of the Commonwealth, and such colonies or States as may hereafter be admitted into or established by the Commonwealth, and each of such parts of the Commonwealth shall be hereafter designated a " State."

I—A. 5.