The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-30
NEW AuSrRALASiAN NATION.
Details of the New Federation Recently
Decided On.


Decided On.
From the Baltimore Sun.
Five of the Australasian colonies will
become members of the United States of
Australasia at its formation, and two
others, West Australia and New Zealand,
may be expected to Join it after time
The federating colonies will place their
administration in the hands of federal
parliament, which is to consist Of the
queen and two houses. In the senate each
colony. no matter how large or how
small, will have six senators. The house
of representatives is to have approx
mately twice as many members allotted
to the colonies in proportion to their re-
spective populations, but in such man
ner that no colony shall have less than
five. Senators, as we'll as representatives,
are to be elected by the people--a demo-
cratic feature that distinguishes the Aus
tralasian constitution from those of Can
ada and the United States. The constitu-
ton of the antipodal Anglo-S Saxon ma alton
resembles ours rather than that of Cam
ada in this. that all rights not expressly
conferred on the federal parliament are
reserved to the local parliaments The
queen will be represented by a governor
general. who will be assisted by an exec
utive council of not less than seven men,
bers, who will be responsible to parlia-
ment. The real power will of course,
party which commands majority in the
parliament.
Assuming that West Australia win soon
become member, the new federation
will have population of 3,733,6S with &c
senators and rs representatives, distrib
uted as follows: New South Wales, pop
ulation 1,346240, representatives 26; Vic
toria, population, 1,175,49O, representatives
%; Queensland, population 1858, repre-
sentatives 10; South Australia, population
367,934, representatives Z; West Australia,
population 16S150, representatives 6; Tas-
mania, population 1874, representatives
s.
The federal parliament will regulate for
eign trade and intercolonial trade i'm
pose tariff taxes. take measures for mill
tary defense and borrow money, but will
not control the lands OF the various colo
MES. Financial control is restricted to the
lower house, the senate only having a
power of suggesting amendments. An OBJ
structive senate will be overwhelmed by
voting in a joint sitting of both houses.
The administrative expenses of the union
now estimated at about 81. 500, 600 are to
be met by taxes, but any surplus over eN-
penses Is to be returned to the colonies on
a fair basis. The conversion of colonial
debts and the federation. of railways are
expected after a time to save much more
than the cost of the new government. An
ates a supreme court, with subordinate
federal courts, which will work much like
the system in the United States. A provi-
sion taking questions of Interpretation of
the constitution from the privy council in
London will not. according to the London
Times, be readily acquiesced in by the
British government. Amendment of the
constitution is to be effected by popular
vote. Where a colony has female sur-
frage Its votes in questions of altering
the constitution are to be divided by
two
The rapid rise of Japan as naval pow
err and the appearance of the United
States in the Philippines are the circum-
stances that are supposed to have decided
waverers upon the necessity of federation,
in order that the resources of all Austria
lasia may be combined for its defense.
The area, resources, energy and wealth
of the new power are very considerable.
The area of the continent, with the is
lands dependent upon 1t, is 1888 80 square
miles, with a population of 4,500,00O This
includes. of course, New Zealand. Tas-
mania. the Fiji islands and part of New
Guinea. In 1895 there were II. IA miles of
railway, owned almost entirely by the
colonies. The gold and silver mines are
among the most productive in the world
Agriculture, fruit culture, sheep raising,
etc, produce large results. The aggregate
revenue in 1895 was SAG. 500 600; the pub
lie debt 81 062 800 900. The value of pas
toral properties alone In 1897 was s115S-
227, 600 Last year the aggregate of for
eign trade was $3.50 00O.G00 In other
words a population of less than one-six-
teenth of that of the United States had a
foreign trade one-ffth of that Of the
United States The spirit of the Austria
lasians being commensurate with their
wealth and enterprise, the new nation
may be expected to play a prominent part
in the political future of the West Pa
clfic Russia will find II an active antag-
onist and the dismemberment of China
will not be accomplished without an en-
ergetic protest from the Australasians
The United States. on the other hand
will find them active rivals in the exploit
tation of the commercial resources of the
far East