A.-.A.k

1899. NEW ZEALAND.

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL (COPY OF), AS APPROVED AT A CONFERENCE OF THE PRIME MINISTERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES, AND SUBMITTED TO THE QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

A Bill to make Provision for the Acceptance and Enactment of a Federal Constitution for AUSTKALASIA. (Initiated in Committee 19th May, 1899. —H0n. J. E. Dickson.— Appropriation recommended by Message from the Governor. Preamble. Whereas at a Convention held at Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, in the months of February and March, 1898, at which the Colonies of New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, and the Province of South Australia were represented, a Draft Bill intituled "Draft of a Bill to Constitute the Commonwealth of Australia" was adopted: And whereas at a Conference of the Prime Ministers of the Colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, and of the Province of South Australia, held at Melbourne aforesaid, in the months of January and February, 1899, certain amendments in the said Draft Bill were agreed to subject to Parliamentary approval: And whereas under the provisions of an Act of the Parliament of the Colony of New South Wales lately passed the said Draft Bill in a form embodying the said amendments, and being identical in its terms and provisions with the Constitution hereinafter mentioned, is to be referred to the decision of a majority of the electors in that colony for acceptance or rejection : And whereas for the purpose of obtaining such decision a poll of the said electors is appointed to be taken on the 20th day of June next ensuing: And whereas it is desirable that the said Draft Bill in the form aforesaid should now be submitted to a vote of the electors of Queensland, and that, in the event of its being accepted as hereinafter provided, further action should be taken to procure the passing of the same into law: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of Queensland in Parliament, assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :— Short Title. 1. This Act may be cited as " The Australasian Federation Enabling Act (Queensland), 1899," and shall have effect in the event of the decision of a majority of the said electors of New South Wales, upon the taking of the poll aforesaid, being in favour of the acceptance of the said Draft Bill in the form aforesaid, but otherwise shall not have any force or effect. Interpretation of terms. Schedule 2. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meanings set against them respectively, that is to say :— " Assembly"—The Legislative Assembly of Queensland : "Colonies"—The Colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, and the Province of South Australia, including the Northern Territory; "Constitution" —The draft of a Federal Constitution for Australasia set out in the Second Schedule hereto : . "Elector" —A person who is qualified and entitled to vote for the election of a member' or members of the Assembly at the time of the taking of the poll hereinafter mentioned: '•'... " Electoral District"—An electoral district constituted by " The Electoral Districts Act' of 1887," and "The Electoral Districts Act of 1892." This section shall not extend to or affect the interpretation of any terms used in the Constitution. •■•■••. • The Submission to the Electors. Submission; to the electors. Sohedule 1. 3. (,1.) At a time to be fixed by the Governor in Council by Proclamation published in the Gazette, the question of the acceptance or rejection of the Constitution shall be referred and submitted to the electors. , . , . I—A. 4.