The times., 1900-12-31
THE AUSTRALIAN union
Six Colonies to Form a New Com
mOnwealtli Tomorrow.
The First Parliament to BE Opened
by the Duke of Yorkshire Extent
"i the Country - The Individual
Governments - Steps Toward Fed
eraticn First Taken in 1852.

try expressly for that purpose. 20 show
how deeply the Queen of England is in
terested in the occasion
The country, which measures about
1000 miles east and west and 1870 miles
from north to south, having an area OF
2,9i5, 600 square miles, is the most i'm
| portant of the many islands comprising
the geographical division known as Aus
tralasia. and is nearly equal in area to
| the United States, exclusive of Alaska
and the newly acquired possessions. Its
| white population, exclusive of Tasmania S
$4,000, numbers only about 1886 900, of
which New South Wales has /, 400, 900, Vic
| toria 100000, Queensland 100000 South
| Australia 365, 900, and West Australia
! 10000. This shows that the country is
exceedingly thinly populated, there being
! only fraction over one white person to
the square mile. AS to the climate A. r.
! Gilman writes: Il once struck what is
! called there a brickfelder,' which means
/ that the mercury was sizzling around 11S
! degrees in the shade, while a north wind
was driving fine red dust into ones very
bones. Sparrows were dropping dead, and
| beasts of burden actually refused to
! bulge. This exceptional heat was fol-
lowed by a sudden change of wind from
| the opposite direction, with torrents Of
rain, which in about ten minutes changed
| the temperature to so degrees above
zere."
Each OF the six colonies constituting the
Commonwealth is in many respects dis
| tinct and separate State. Each has its
Parliament and responsible Cabinet, with
a Governor appointed by the British
Crown who is also, by virtue of his Office
commander-in chief of the military and
naval forces, Although these States are
British dependencies they make their own
; laws. but these must receive the sanction
o. the Queen or her representative
| before they Become operative. Australia is
not great manufacturing country, but
takes high rank as a producer of gold, sill
yer, copper, and other metals; wool, sugar.
grain, and meat. The coal product is about
100000 tons yearly. The railroads and
telegraph lines are nearly all operated by
the State. OF the former u 800 miles are
open for traffic, but there is different
gauge in every colony that of Victoria
being feet inches; New South Wales,
feet inches; Queensland feet inches
etc. The Commonwealth is not behind
other and better known countries in the
matter of public debt This has reached
about sS10 per capita. as against about s15
in the United States.
Education is compulsory. and for higher
education there are universities at Mel
bourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. There is no
State Church, but the Episcopalians are
the dominant body, with Roman Catholics
second, Presbyterians third, and Metho-
dists fourth.
The first steps toward federation were
taken in 1852, when proposal was made
to form a general assembly for the pur-
pose of framing laws relating to inter
colonial affairs. Nothing was done. how
ever. until permission was obtained from
the British Government 10 establish a fed
eral council, the first meeting of which
was held at Hobart, Tasmania in Jan
uary, 1886. Four years later a conference
of delegates from the seven colonies. in
cluding New Zealand, met at Melbourne.
At this meeting steps were taken toward
the appointment of delegates to a ma
tional Australian convention empowered
to consider and report upon a satisfactory
basis for a federal constitution. This con-
yention met at Sydney in March, 1891. |
Resolutions having in view federal con-
stitution were passed, and bill creating |
a commonwealth of Australia was adopt |
ed but these measures failed to satisfy |
all who were interested, and later lead |
ers of the several governments held con- |
ferences, and as q result OF their actions |
another convention met at Melbourne in |
February, 1898, and adopted another bill !
for submission to the people This consti- |
tuition bill was submitted by means of the |
referendum in June. 1898, and was adopt |
ed by all the colonies with the exception I
of New South Wales by large majorities. |
The differences were adjusted in January, !
1899 all disputed points were settled, and |
an amended bill was passed by the several |
parliaments. Addresses to the Queen were I
framed a federal delegation visited Eng
land to confer with the home Government |
the bill was passed by both houses of
Parliament, and finally received the as
sent of the Crown.
Under the new act the executive power
is vested in a Governor General appoint
ed by the Queen, assisted by federal
executive council. The Federal Parlia-
ment will consist of two houses the Sen
ate and the House of Representatives.
both to be elected by the people on the
basis of zone man one vote" The term
of Senator's is to be six years, and that
of Representatives three years. Every
State or Colony originally included in
the Commonwealth is entitled 10 an equal
of six Senators. and the
total number of Representatives is to
be as nearly as possible twice that of
the Senators, each State to be represent
ed in proportion to population, the mini
mum being fixed at five members.
Immediately on the establishment of the
the Federal Government
will assume the administration of customs
and excise, and as soon as practicable af-
terward the control of the post and tele-
graph services, defences. lighthouses and
quarantine. Should the Federal law con-
fict with any existing State law, the for
mer shall prevail. Within two years of
the establishment of the Commonwealth a
uniform customs and excise tariff in rela-
tion to the outside world shall be fixed by |
the Federal Government, and intercolonial
trade made absolutely free. The central
government may also. with the consent of
he States. assume control Of railways and
State debts. interest on the latter to be
5ald out Of surplus revenue derived from
customs and excise. The Commonwealth {
ict provides for a High Court Of Justice.
which may hear appeals from the Federal
,ourts and State supreme courts, and con-
aims clause forbidding appeal to the
British Privy Council in affairs affecting
he Australian Constitution and giving to
be Federal Parliament pow er to limit the
light of appeal in other respects also.
Future generations viii, determine what
ederation really means, and much will !
lepend on the calbre of the Representa-
i've chosen to the Federal Parliament ,
{ is believed by men who have given the
ubtect close study that good results viii
,e attained only if a majority of the rep ,
are willing to look upon af-
airs which come before them from a ma ,
ional, anG not from Il provincial, point
4 view. There are many anti-Federalists
II the Commonwealth, and of these many {
fo- a.