A.—4a

4

and determining the number of Senators to be chosen for each division, and in the absence of such provision the State shall be one electorate. Until the Parliament otherwise provides there shall be six Senators for each original State. The Parliament may make laws increasing or diminishing the number of Senators for each State, but so that equal representation of the several original States shall be maintained, and that no original State shall have less than six Senators. The Senators shall be chosen for a term of six years, and the names of the Senators chosen for each State shall be certified by the Governor to the Governor-General. Mode of giving effect to Ageeement. The Premier of New South Wales expresses his willingness to take steps for the passage of a measure through the Parliament of New South Wales providing for the reference of the Bill, as proposed to be altered, to the vote of the electors in New South Wales as soon as conveniently may be. The Premiers of the other colonies are of opinion that after the people of New South Wales have accepted the Bill as offered, it should be submitted to the Parliaments of their respective colonies for reference to the electors. The Premiers are also of opinion that it is desirable that the decision of a majority of the electors voting in each colony should be sufficient for the acceptance or rejection of the Bill. South Australia to be at liberty to take the referendum at the next general election for the House of Assembly. George Turner, Chairman. C. C. Kingston. G. H. Eeid. E. Braddon. James E. Dickson. John Forrest. Melbourne, 3rd February, 1899. On the conclusion of the business of the Conference the following resolution was unanimously adopted, upon the motion of the Eight Hon. G. H. Eeid, seconded by the Hon. J. E. Dickson, viz. : " That this Conference desires to express and place upon record its high sense of the most valuable services rendered by the Chairman of the Conference during its deliberations."

DRAFT OP A BILL TO CONSTITUTE THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, SHOWING AMENDMENTS AGEEED TO AT THE CONFEEENCE OF PEEMIEES IN FEBEUAEY, 1899. Copy of Federal Constitution under the Crown, as finally adopted by the Australasian Federal Convention, at Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, on the 16th March, 1898, showing Amendments of the Constitution agreed to at a Conference of the Prime Ministers of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia, which sat at Melbourne on the 28th, 30th, and 31st January, and the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd February, 1899. [Alterations from the original text are shown by black letter when new matter is introduced, and by striking through any old matter which is omitted.] ANNO SEXAGESIMO ET SEXAGESIMO PRIMO VICTORIA REGINiE. A.D. 1898. Deaft of a Bill to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia. Preamble. Whereas the people of [here name the colonies which have adopted the Constitution], humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and under the Constitution hereby established: And whereas it is expedient to provide for the admission into the Commonwealth of other Australasian Colonies and possessions of the Queen: 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 Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act." Act to bind Crown, and extend to the Queen's Successors. 2. This Act shall bind the Crown, and its provisions referring to the Queen shall extend to Her Majesty's Heirs and Successors in the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom. Proclamation of Commonwealth. 3. It shall be lawful for the Queen, with the advice of the Privy Council, to declare by Proclamation that, on and after a day therein appointed, not being later than one year after the passing of this Act, the people of [here name the colonies which have adopted the Constitution] shall be united in a Federal Commonwealth under the name of " The Commonwealth of Australia."