Evening star., 1901-11-06
AFFAIRS IN AUSTRALASIA
SLOW PROGRESS MADE BY THE
COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENT.
New Zealand's Excessive Expenditure
Likely to Lead to "a
Deficit.

Wellington Correspondence New York Times.
| In these colonies We are somewhat prone
| to effect our legislation in haste and amend
| it at leisure. The new commonwealth par
| Lament seems to have determined to de-
| part from the established methods, and as
a result it is being freely abused for what
its critics pleased to call waste of time
1t would scarcely be advisable, one would
think, to put through in any hurry such
important measures as those which are oc-
cupying the attention of the peoples repre-
sentatives during this first session; and
even if the whole of the time spent upon
them is not profitably spent, there is at all
events less likelihood of weakness and
anomalies being left in the acts after such
lengthy and detailed criticism as they are
receiving
The real secret of the criticism is that the
people, and especially the free traders are
anxious for the federal tariff to make its
appearance, and they are growing restive
over the delay in introducing it. Naturally
the framing of a tariff for the newly consti-
tuted nation Is not the simplest of work
and it is not to be accomplished with a few
strokes of the pen. Speaking recently at
the town of Bendigo. the prime minister
Mr.. Barton, stated that the federal tariff
was practically framed" The expression
was too indecisive for his critics, and Mr.
Barton was driven to explain his meaning
more now that the tar
fn has been drafted by the minister of GUS
toms and the federal treasurer its general
proposals being on lines agreed upon by the
cabinet. The details, however, have not
been finally settled by the ministers con-
cerned. and have therefore not yet been
submitted to the cabinet. Mr. Kingston
the minister of customs. and Sir George
Turner, the treasurer, are still engaged in
consulting the vast tables of statistics pre-
pared for their guidance by the customs Of
hcials, and in recastng the tariff where II
appears necessary to do so.
New Guinea.
The imperial government has been an
preached by the federal premier on the
subject of the administration of New
Guinea, but as yet no reply to his commu-
nications has been received Mr. Barton
informed the imperial authorities that New
South Wales, Victoria and Queensland |
were favorable to the control of New
Gulnea by the federal government and /
asked if the British government would 4
contribute some $33, 900 toward the annual |
expenditure, which will total about S105 900
The matter is to be submitted to the fed
tied
At the request of the federal government
Admiral Beaumont, who commands the
Australian squadron, has furnished |
scheme Of naval defense. The admiralsI
are for an immediate practicable
scheme. He considers that Australia re- |
quires at least six cruisers in commission. |
two to be hrst-class ships of 1900 o. 5 900 |
tons displacement, and the rest second
class cruisers of the improved H:ghhyer !
type. In addition there should be two ves- |
sells OF the latter type in reserve. These |
vessels should be replaced by more modern |
vessels as the development of naval con-
or the increase of foreign fleets |
makes 1t necessary. The ships should ali |
be under the admiral In command of the |
station, and the crews should be subject TO |
the naval discipline act. and under the |
same terms of engagement as meE ir the |
royal navy. The headquarters of the feet |
should be at Sydney, but secondary bases at |
other ports are also recommended This |
scheme, the admiral thinks cannot be con- |
sidered to be within the capacity Of the |
itself as yet but should be |
the result OF arrangements with the irnpe-
rial government. The scheme proposed is |
practically an extension of existinr ar
engagements. The admiral does hot favor