The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-05-06


Ihteu F." 81 ,IructiOns not to bind |
their colony to come under any con-
stilution That might be adopted.
The two most distinguished dele
gates, no doubt, were the venerable
Sir George Grey of New Zealand,
and Sir Henry Parkes, each for
many wears the leading statesman Of
his colony and both ardent fedora
tionists On the whole the person.
mel of the Convention was worthy of
the occasion that had called it to-
gether.
Their discussions are very able
and interesting, and show thorough
study of the political systems OF
Switzerland and Canada as well as
of the United States. Early in the
session congratulatory message from
the Queen was read. twas received
standing, and three cheers were
given for Her Majesty.
At the opening of the session Sir
Henry Parkes introduced the follow
ing resolutions, embodying the prin-
ciples of the new Constitution. They
were debated until the 18th, and
then referred to three select commit
| tees:
81. That the powers and privileges
and territorial rights of the several
existing colonies shall remain intact,
except in respect 10 such surrenders
as may be agreed upon as necessary
and incidental to the power and
authority of the National Federal
Government.
~. That the trade and intercourse
between the Federated Colonies,
whether by means of land carriage
or coastal navigation, shall be abso-
Iutely free.
"3. That the power and authority
to impose customs duties shall be
exclusively lodged in the Federal
Government ami Parliament, subject
to such disposal of the revenues
thence derived as shall be agreed
upon.
81 That the military and naval de-
fence of Australia shall be entrusted
to Federal forces, under one com
mand. Subject to these and other
necessary provisions, this Convention
approves of the framing of Federal
Constitution, which shall establish:
~. A Parliament to consist of
Senate aud House of Representa-
lives, the former consisting of an
equal number of members from each
province, to be elected by a system
which shall provide for the retire.
ment of one~third of the members
every-yeats, so securing to the body
itself perpetual existence combined
with definite responsibility to the
electors; the latter to be elected by
districts formed on population basis,
and to possess the sole power of
originating and amending all bills
appropriatng revenue or imposing
taxation.
90. A Judiciary, consisting of
Federal Supreme Court, which shall
constitute High Court of Appeal
for Australia. under the direct
authority of the Sovereign, whose
decisions as such shall he final.
20. An Executive, consisting of
Governor General, an such persons
as may from time to time be appoint
ed as his advisers, such persons sit
ting in Parliament, and whose term
of office shall depend upon their
possessing the confidence of the
House of Representatives expressed
by the support of the majority"
1t will be seen that the proposed
constitution is more of the American
than of the centralized, cast-iron
Canadian type. The high-spirited
democracies of Victoria and New
South Wales will never submit to be
reduced to the subordinate position
of Canadian provinces. will briefly
mention the main points established
in the discussion.
The Federal Executive will con-
sist, as in Canada, of a Governor
General, appointed by the Crown,
and a responsible Ministry, sitting in
the House of Representatives, and
dependent on the support of ma
iority of that body.
But the Prime Minister of Austria
liza will not control the enormous pat
ronage held by Sir John Macdonald
So, 1, thn fnntpll Evnsil-
tive appoints not only all the lieuten-
ant governors of the several pro-
vinces, but also. all the judges of the
provincial courts.
Nor will the Australians brook the
idea of Federal veto on State legis-
Iation, which has not worked well in
Canada. AS the veto power is I'M
known to their colonial legislatures,
being, as they think, incompatible
with the theory of responsible gov
ernment, it will not be given to the
Governor-General. The prevailing
view in the Convention was that each
state should elect its governor in its
own way.
An important difference between
the constitution of Canada and that
Of the United States is that in the
former all subjects not expressly as
signed TO the legislator es of the Pro-
yinces, are held to be within the
! jurisdiction of the Federal Govern
ment. The Australians prefer the
American doctrine that 'all powers
not delegated to the Federal Govern