The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-11-06
THE AUSTRALIAN CoNFEDERACY

The Federal Convention, as it has
been termed, met in Sydney early in
September, with the purpose of adopt
ing the draft of Constitution of the
proposed commonwealth of Australia
which had been drawn up during the
interval since the session of the
first convention, held several months
previous During the interim, draft
of the proposed Constitution had been
discussed in the Colonial Legislatures
and by the newspapers. and after va
rious changes it was supposed to en-
body the views of majority of the
leading statesmen of each of the Co.
lonial Governments interested in the
confederation scheme. Queensland,
which has heretofore taken no part
in this scheme, was only partially rep
resented. in the latest convention, but
the absence of Premier Nelson, who
had not returned from England,
where he went to attend the Queens
Jubilee, prevented final action at this
session, which developed many diver
sified views, regarding the rights of
the different states or colonies inter
ested in the confederacy.
Many amendments and new provi-
sions were introduced, some of which
were very radical in their character
The principal ones related to the pri-
vileges and powers claimed by the
several states composing the Federal
Union. The three smaller colonies
Tasmania. South Australia and West
Australia-demand equal representa-
ton in both houses with the other and
larger colonies-New South Wales,
Victoria and Queensland. The larger
colonies partially made the conces-
sion demanded, Victoria still refusing
to yield equal representation to the
small colonies, and some other points.
The changes which have been de
manded at the late session are so rad
zeal. as to threaten the success of the
confederation scheme, and so many
divergent views have been brought up
that it was thought best to adjourn
the convention, and appoint another
session to be held at Melbourne on
the Goth of January, 1898. New South
Wales is understood to be very firm
for representation on the basis of pop
ulation. The smaller colonies, it is
stated, wish to give the Senate the
power only to amend bills relating to
taxes and duties, which originate only
in the lower house. While the older
colonies demand the right to reject
or veto such bills. The question of
deadlocks between the two houses
created considerable divergence of
opinion, which may be difficult to rec
oncile. 1t is said that the various
amendments thus far proposed, if
adopted, will virtually kill the scheme
a confederacy.
But there is very little doubt, when
a full discussion of these propositions
is had that some will be dropped and
others adopted. All these various and
arbitrary propositions have been re-
ferred to the next session to be held
in Melbourne in January.
1t is said that a large majority of
the people in Australia are favorable
to the formation of Confederacy,
while those in office are opposed TO
the change. The new constitution
when adopted by the convention is TO
be referred to popular vote for APP
proval, which will undoubtedly be Civ
en-, as the present system of having
each colony tax the produce of the
other colonies is very obnoxious and a
great hindrance TO inter-colonial
trade.
When the Constitution has been
been adopted by the Convention, and
approved by popular vote, it has to
be referred to the British Government
which will undoubtedly give its APP
proval, by passing an enabling act
How different this will be from her
attitude towards the thirteen States
of the American Union when they
adopted their constitution.