New-York tribune., 1899-06-21

.rRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
Sydney. May 10
The fate OF Australian federation Will be decided
by the results OF the referendum in New South
wales on June 20 which day the residents OF
that colony will be asked 10 accept or reject the
Australian Commonwealth bill as amended by the
Premiers Of New South Wales Victoria. Queens
land South Australia. Western Australia and Tas
mania sitting IN special conference in Melbourne
Some idea OF the extent OF territory affected is
afforded by the fact that in one-half OF It could
be placed the whole OF England Wales. Ireland.
Scotland. Sweden. Norway. Denmark. Germany
Belgium, Holland. Austria Switzerland, France.
Spain. Portugal Italy. Greece and even Palestine.
leaving the remaining half open for the reception
OF other countries. Alludng to this one Of the
leading advocates Of Australian federation speak
ing at great public meeting in Sydney, asked his
hearers think what would have been the course
Of English history at the time OF the heptarehy II
the seven kingdoms into which the land was d.
vided had remained separate. II would have been
perhaps just what might happen. metaphorcally
speaking II the colonies OF Australasia did
not have the good sense 10 come together In the
bond OF brotherhood With federation, Australia,
which was second TO country on the face OF the
earth would produce the best OF all races-some-
thing like the American type mixture OF
English. Welsh. Scottish Irish and Australian
blood
In New South Wales every registered eector has
Al electoral right, small sheet Of paper contain
ing his name, residence electoral number and
other details which must be produced before he
IS allowed record his vote. In taking the refer
endum the whole Of the colony is treated as
single constituency the holder Of electoral right
being permitted TO vote where he pleases his cleo
toral right. when doing being stamped In such
q manner that It cannot be used second time
for the same purpose The voting is by ballot, the
voter being supplied with ballot paper on which
are inscribed the words. Are you in favor Of the
Australian Commonwealth bill? Yes. No the
voter striking the negative or the affirmative
as he may prefer. The paper is then folded and
deposited IN ballot-box. 1t is anticipated that
che voting will show a large majority in favor Of
federation; and should such be the case. time
will be lost in taking the Queensland referendum
80 that the Australian Commonwealth bill may be
cent without delay the imperial authorities for
approval
NOT A RECENT MOVEMENT.
The federal movement in Australia has not been
Of sudden growth. although its later developments
have been somewhat rapid II is the outcome Of
.ational sentiment fostered by the increasing num-
Der Of native-b born Australians chershing strong
pride in the possibilities OF the land OF their birth
In Victoria an Australian natives association was
established. with branches in the other colonies
with the object OF cultivating a national spirit
the desirableness OF Australian unity forming the
leading theme at the annual meetings. The late
Sir Henry Parkes. formerly Premier Of New South
Wales. was a strong advocate Of colonial fedora
tion: indeed, almost every leading individual IN
Australia has declared its acconTlis hment essen
tial 10 the material welfare OF tie colonies but
Sir Henry Parkes dsliked any movement In which
he was not allowed 10 occupy a predominating
place and when in response the popular de-
Tnand in Australia, the Federal Council Of Aus
traha established. in 1885. Sir Henry Parkes
would not allow New South Wales be repre-
eented- although the representatives OF the other
colonies had seats in the Council. The imperial
authorities regarded the Council as a step in the
direction Of Australian federation. which. It
thought. would become readily accomplished
by accustoming the Australian colonies TO act in
concert in matters Of common interest.
The objects OF the Federal Council of Australasia
Gre stated in the imperial enabling 20 be for
che purpose OF dealing with such matters OF m
mon Australasian interest, in respect to which
united action is desirable can be dealt with
without unduy interfering with the mana cement
OF the internal affairs Of the several colonies by
their respective legislatures"
Each independent colony was TO be represented
by two members and each crown colony by one
member. The Council was TO meet ct least once In
two years. the first meeting 70 be held at Hobart.
:n Tasmania and the others In such places as
might be decided upon To IL also intrusted
legislative authority in respect the relations Of
Australia with the Islands Of the Pacific. preven-
ton Of the influx OF criminals control OF fisheries
.n Australian waters beyond territorial limits
.orcement Of judgments OF courts Of law of any
colony beyond the limits OF the colony. extraditon
Of criminal offenders. etc. The Council also had
authority refer the legislatures OF the several
colonies a number OF matters including general
defences quarantine patents. copyright. bills OF
exchange and promissory notes, uniformity Of
weights and measures. naturalization Of aliens-in
fact. almost everything OF general Australasisn In
Ierest with respect 10 which the legislatures Of the
several colonies could legislate within their own
limits and 10 which II was desirable that there
should be law OF general application, provided
In the OF the Council should
extend only the colonies by whose legsls the
matter should have been referred to and adopted.
THE FIRST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.
The first meeting Of the Federal Council was held
81 Hobart January q. 1886 the colonies repre-
sented being Victoria. Tasmania Queensland.
Western Australia and FIJI At subsequent meet
ings OF the Council Fiji remained unrepTesented,
but in 1889 South Australia sent a couple OF repre-
sentatives The members OF the Council consisted
principally OF the Premers and leading Ministers Of
the colonies represented. The acts and recon-
mendatons OF the Council have been accepted by
the whole OF the colonial legislatures. with the
cepton OF New South Wales, whose abstention
naturally made the unity OF legislative action mi
tiated by the Council incomplete and partially in
operative.
In 1880 Sir Henry Parkes. Premier Of New South
Wales. who had systematically ignored the exist
ence OF the Federal Council Of Australasia. issued
circular 70 the Premiers OF the other Australasian
colonies the result being Australasian Fedora
tion conference az the Parliament Houses. Mel
bourne. IN February OF the same year, at which
all OF the colonies represented. the New
South Wales delegates being Sir Henry Parkes
and the Colonial Treasurer. w. Mcmillan. At
this conference II arranged that conven-
tOn OF representatives elected by the several
lonal psrliaments should be held IN Sydney in
March 1871 each colony having seven representa-
tves with the exception Of New-Zeaand. which
had only three The convention was presided over
By Sir Henry Parkes and draft bill was prepared
10 be submitted 10 the several colonial legislatures
but It's provisions failed In securing general ap-
proval. and ultimately 81 abandoned.
In 1895 George Houston Reid. who had succeeded
Sir Henry Parkes in the Premiership OF New South