Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-16
A KATION BORN.

Before the close Of the present century
the worlds maps will be dotted with the
boundary lines Of a new nation. 1t will
be called the United States of Austral-
ASA. five Of the Australasia colonies hav-
ing agreed to form il. West Australia and
New Zealand MAJ conclude to join it after
a time. The government Of the new ma
ton will be placed in the hands of a fed
eral parliament. which is to consist of the
Quesn and two houses-a senate and
house of representatives. something like
our own. Each colony will have six sem
ators. We W. two from each state.
The new nation goes US four better. The
size of the colony cuts no figure in the
number each will have.
The house Of representatives is to be
composed of not less than five members
from each colony, at the least. Some of
the colonies will nave more than five, the
number to be determined by their respec-
tive population, just as some of our states
are allowed more representatives than
others. Thus far the new nation patterns
somewhat after our own, but it departs
from us in the matter Of electing senator's.
Populistic teachings seem to have taken
root in the new nation, and senators will
be elected by the people as representa-
tives are, a feature which distinguishes
the Australian constitution from that of
Canada. 1t resembles ours rather than
that of our northern neighbor in that all
rights not expressly conferred on the fed
eral parliament are reserved to the local
parliaments. &C., Is
The queen will be represented by a gov
ernor-general, who will be assisted by an
executive council Of not less than seven
members, who will be responsible to par
Lament. Here the politician will have a
field in which to ply his vocation, for the
real power of the administration will re-
will be chosen from the party which COM
mands a majority in parliament. When
West Australia shall enter the new ma
ton, or federation, it will nave a popula-
20 H1OoV,VoO GouiS, Will ~ Sill
ators and rs representatives, a pretty
good starter for a new nation. Our fore
fathers founded our republic with a pop
ulation not exceeding that.
The federal parliament will be Clothed
with about the same power our congress
has. 1t will regulate foreign and inter-
colonial trade, impose duties, take meas
ures for military defense against foreign
and domestic foes, and borrow money.
The control of the lands of the colonies
is left to each. The lower house, like that
of our own, will have control of the finan-
cial affairs Of the nation, the senate hav-
ing the power of suggesting amendments
only. The expenses of the administration.
now estimated at only 81, 500, 900, will be
met by taxes. 1t is expected that after
everything shall be running in good shape
the nation will save more thar the cost Of
its administration.
An important section Of the constitution
IS the one which creates a supreme court,
with subordinate federal courts, very
much resembling the system in this coun-
try. An amendment Of the constitution is
to be effected by a majority vote of each
house, and be followed by a popular vote.
Colonies may permit female suffrage. hut
where 1T is cast upon a constitutional
amendment it will be divided by two.
That is pretty hard on the female suffra-
gists.
The area, resources, energy and wealth
Of the new nation will be very considera-
BILE should New Zealand, Tasmania, the
Fiji islands and a part of New Guinea
enter into the federation as it is SUD-
posed they will. The nation will then con-
tain an area of over $3.50. coo square miles.
as large as the United States, and can
boast Of a population of 1850, 900. It's gold
and silver mines are the most productive
in the world, while it's agriculture, fruit
raising. sheep growing, etc., d largely
to the wealth OF it's resources. It's foreign
trade last year aggregated $3.50, 900, 900. In
a word, the new nation with a popula-
ton less than one-sixteenth of that of the
United States. had a foreign trade one
firth Of hat Of this country. 1t will thus
be seen that the new antipodal nation