The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-14
More About Australasian Union.

NIOTc ABOUT "AuStrStbS1an Jn1On.
We referred the other day to some of the
principles embodied in the Australasian
Constitution by the convention now sitting
at Adelaide. Further information on the
subject has since come to hand, and we are
able to compare in several important par
~ticulars the proposed Federal organic law
with the corresponding systems of the
United States and the Dominion of Canada.
1t will be remembered that our Federal
Constitution was never submitted directly
to a popular vote. After being framed by
the Philadelphia Convention, it was re-
ferred to State conventions, and eventually
adopted by them. The Constitution of the
Dominion of Canada, officially set forth in
the British North American act, originally
took the form of a series of resolutions
passed by the so-called Quebec Conference,
which met Oct. 10, 1864.
These resolutions were never submitted
to the people directly, but were referred to
the colonial legislatures, and were accepted
by those of Canada (Which then comprised
Quebec and Ontario), of New Brunswick,
and of Nova Scotia, but were rejected by
those of Prince Edward Island and New
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eventually entered the confederation The
refusal of the Colonial Government of Nova
Scotia to allow the people of that prov.
ince to vote upon the Federal Constitution
provoked great Indignation, and the oppo-
nents of the measure found an eloquent
spokesman in Mr.. JOSEPH HOWE, who went
to London for the purpose Of arguing
against the passage of the British North
American bill. AS regards the Australasian
Constitution, on the other hand, every pre-
caution has been taken to secure for it de-
liberate discussion and the direct adhesion
Of the people. The members of the AIDE
laide Convention were not designated by
the several colonial Legislatures, but were
chosen by the popular vote. The proceed
ings are not secret, as were those of our
Philadelphia Convention, and, moreover,
after the first draft has been completed, it
Is to be published and the Convention is to
adjourn for sixty days. During the in
terval the instrument will be subjected to
the most rigorous scrutiny, and, when the
Convention rcassemblcs, it will consider
what amendments may be ncedful. The
organic law finally adopted by this body
will be referred, not to the colonial Lcgis-
latures but directly to the electors for rati-
fication or rejection. The preliminary labors
of the Convention arc likely to be over by
the middle of May, and that body will re-
assemble by the middle of July. 1t is pos
sible that the verdict of the electors may be
pronounced in August. 1t all events, it
seems certain that the question of Aus.
tralasian federation will be settled one way
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There has been observed Mt Adelaide the
same conflict of interests between the large
States and the small States which for a
time proved an obstacle to union in the
case of the Dominion of Canada and in that
of the United States. At the Quebec con
ference the small provinces were overborne,
and the Senate, created by the British
North American act, consisted, at the time
of union, of sevcniy-two members-twenty-
four each from Ontario and Quebec, twelve
each from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
In the Philadelphia Convention of 1887, on
the other hand, the small States had their
will, so far MS securing equal representation
in the Senate was concerned. With respect
To this matter the Adelaide Convention
will he guided largely, it is believed,
by the Commonwealth bill drawn up
at the Sydney Convention Of 1891, and
credited to Sir SAMUEL GRIFFITH, Chief
Justice of Queensland. That bill proposed
that the Federal Parliament should consist
of two houses, as in the United States, the
members OF the lower house being apsor-
toned according to population, but each
State without regard to the number of its
inhabitants being entitled to eight Sena-
tors. OF the five colonies represented in
the Adelaide Convention, three, namely,
Western Australia, South Australia, and
Tasmania, are determined upholders of the
American principle, while the most popu.
lous colonies, Victoria and New South
Wales, are believed TO be firmly opposed ia
an arrangement which would give one.
third of the population of Australasia the
power to override the remaining two
thirds. AS a matter of fact, however,
there is much less difference In respect of
population between Victoria and Tasmania,