Tuesday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 20, 11 September 1885, Page 11

Tuesday.

In tbe House of Representatives yesterday, the Hon. R. Stout moved—" That in tbe opinion of thie House it is inadvisable for this Colony to join the Federal Council of Australasia under the existing federal Council Act." He said the House would recollect that last year he had moved resolutions bearing upon the establishment of a Federal Council. He was desirous there should be some kind of federation more powerful than was provided by the las* bill passed by the convention. He then explained the provisions of the Federal Bill. When it went from the Convention to the Home Parliament, the Government had represented to the Agent-general that it would be impracticable for this Colony to join the Federal Council unless some such provisions as were asked by the Government were inserted in the Federal Council Bill. He might sty tnat as the Federal Council Bill did not contain the two provisions a^ked last year, he thought it was not desirable to join under it. He felt convinced federation would have to be effected, but it should bean English Australian, and New Zealand Federation. Mr. Alacandrew said he would move his resolution as an addition to that of the Premier'?. Hesaid there was no one in the House who more fully realised the necessity of some such confedeiation than he did, and he thought a suggestion of this kind would come with a peculiar grace from a young Colony like New Zealand. He then moved the following addition to the Hon. R. Stout's resolution :—'• That in the opinion of this House the time has come when efforts should be made tj unite the whole English-speaking people throughout the world in one grand political confedeiation alliance, having f< r its object mutual defence against foreign aggression, tbe maintenance of peace, and the promotion of the brotherhood of nations and that a respectful address be presented to his Excellency tbe Governor requesting that he may be pleased to transmit this icsolution to tbe Qu^en in tbe hope that her Majesty may still further distinguish her illustrious reien by endeavouring to bring about a coufeience that shall represent the whole British dominions and the United Mates of Anunca to meet either at London or Wa^hingion, to consider the question of a political confederation as herein before mentioned." Major Atkinson Baid tbe position of the Premier was undoubtedly a very difficult one. Ihehon. gentleman bad fully admitted the i ece\«sit> for federation, but he had brought down <* resolution which might postpone federation for a long time He thought it was quite clear that if tht y were to become members of a large community, they must be prepared to submit to the regulations of a larger body. It seemed to him the

Premiers speech was full of weighty facts in favour of federation, and he confessed he saw no reason for the dangers which tbe Premier feared from federation— namely, that the Federal Council would by its laws swallow up the smaller bodies. He thought thera could be no possible fear on that score. He should have liked to have moved an amendment that the House was of opinion that New Zealand should join the Federal Council, but he thought it was evident that members had not yet made up their minds m the matter. He hoped, however, that the Premier's motion would not be given effect to, and he wonld ask the Government to accept the following amendment :— " That in tbe opinion of this House, it is undesirable during the present session, and pending further consideration by the people of the Colony, of the important (issues involved, to adopt legislation having for ita object to join New Zealand m the Federal Council of Australia." The Hon. R. Stout said he would accept tbe amendment. Major AtkinRon'a amendment was then put, and agreed to on the voices. Mr. Macandiew's amendment, aud the resolutions as a whole, were also agreed toon the voices.— On the motion that the Gold-Duty Abolition Bill be committed, Captain Sutter moved that the bill be committed that day six months. Mr. Seddon opposed this amendment, and quoted largely from returns to show the necessity for the abolition of the gold duty on the West Coast. Mr. O'Connor said the debate on this question showed conclusively that the abolition of the gold duty would be most advantageous both for companies and private persons. He contended that they ought to assist miners, and by that means they would get a market for Colonial produce. The motion for the second reading was lost on a division by 34 to 23. Mr. Guinness asked if he could move an amendment that the bill be read that day week. Tbe speaker ruled that such an amendment would not be in order. Mr. Gniness entered his protest againit the motion thus affirmed by the House. He attributed the vote given to the unreasonable attitude taken up by the member for Gladstone in referring to gold-mining matters, of which he was utterly ignorant. The question that tbe bill be committed that day six months wrs then put up, and carried by 35 to 33. The Daily Times, Wanaka correspondent telegraphed from Pembroke yesterday as follows :— " The weather is very severe here and the rivers are all flooded. A heavy snowfall has taken place at Cnffel. Warn miners not to come yet. Salvationist party have bottomed at 60ft. on good gold." The position of the English Government (says a cablegram to the Melbourne Age) is not at present so favourable in regard to foreign affairs. Signs of serious usunion in the Conservative ranks are apparent. Many Ministerialists object to the Medical Relief Bill, but still graver differences exist concerning the Irish question. Dissatis action has already been caused by the decision of the Government not to renew any portion of the Crimes Act, and by the concessions made to Mr. Parnell upon that subject. There has been umbrage given by the approval of Karl Carnarvon's proposal that there should be an inquiry into the evidence on which certain murder convictions in Ireland were obtained, and there was the incident in the House of Commons when Mr. Callan charged Mr. Bright with a bieach of privilege in having in his speech at the Liberal banquet to Earl Spencer charged some Irish members with being rebels, and with sympathising with murder and outrage. Mr. Callau's motion was rej>cted by a large majority, but during the debate Sir M. Huks-beach and Lord Churchill both disapproved of Mr. Bright's language, and studiously avoided giving Earl Spencer a word of support. In consequence of this attitude the Tory leaders in the Commons— Lord Claud Hamilton and Mr. Whitely, the Conservative members for Liverpool— signified their intention not to attend the great public meeting at Liverpool which Lord Cburcbiil was to address on the 29th. ult. Lord Churchill thereupon declared in their absence he could not attend the meeting himself. The Conservatives of Liverpool are angry and discontented. At present public feeling in Germany over the difficulty with Spain is quiet. Fifty arrests of rioters have been made in Madrid. In conspquence of the opportunity afforded by the present trouble over the Carolines, it is feared that a rebellion will break out in Spain between the rival factions. The French Press are urging, in the event of war between Spain and Germany, that France should maintain an absolute neutiality. Tbe Russians, on the 14th of August, occupied Cbaman-i-Baidh, a town about 40 miles from Penj-deh, in a south-wes erly direction. A number of Afghans, who were in the vicinity at the time were attacked by the Kussian cavalry. A communication has been received by Si nor Canovas del Castillo, president of the council, trom the German Government relative to tbe occupation of Uup, in which Count Hatzfeldt, German Secretary of State for Foreign affairs, informs him that the commander of the gunboat has disobeyed orders in taking possession of Uup, bis instructions being noi to occupy the lslaud if on his arrival he found the Spaniards in possession. Count Hatzfeldt, in conclusion, expresses a boj.e that the Spanish Government will continue negotiations with Germany with a view to a peaceful settlement of the question.