Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-13
By Massey stonIey

capital city and its surround
ing Capital Territory, may
soon have full representation
in Parliament's House Of Rep
resentatives.
Formed as q federal terri
tory from q part Of the State
of New South Wales early In
the century, the Australian
capital has closely paralleled
washington and the District
of Columbia in development as
q federal capital. And, like
Washington, the Australian
capital has had q long strug-
gle for representation in the
national government and for
some degree Of "home rule"
Canberra began functioning
as the Australian capital In
1927, when key government
Offices and departments were
moved to the 90-square-mfle
area from Melbourne. Inter-
state jealousies played o part
in the selection Of this region
in 1908 for the federal capital.
A curious provision in the
constitution provides that the
capital must be in the State
Of New South Wales. but must
be more than 100 miles from
Sydney. There existed at that
time an intense rivalry be-
tween sydney and Melbourne.
capital Of Victoria, the two
leading cities Of the two most
populous states. The constitu-
tional provision was q compro-
mise. therefore, permitting the
capital to be in New South
Wales but well away from the
immediate influence Of Sgd
ney.
The question Of government
representation for the capital
was first resolved by adopting
the same form Of representa-
ton granted to the Northern
Territory in 1922. This pro-
vided for q single member OF
the House of Representatives
from the territory. He can
take part in any. debate. but
has no vote except on motions
"for the disallowance Of an
ordinance of the territory"
Not being q state. the territory
cannot aspire to member
ship in the Senate.
Northern Territory Model
The Northern Territory is a
vast region of cattle ranches in
the central and northern hin
terland. It includes the town
ship of Darwin, hack door OF
the island continent" to which
the growth of aviation and its
proximity to ASia'S millions
have given 1t q new Signifl-
canoe.
The few whites in that area
lost the franchise when the
State Of Southern Australia
ceded it as federal territory in
1911. Labor riots in 1918
which came close enough to
revolution jolted Australians
into their first real conscious
ness of the existence Of Darwin
and adjacent parts.
When conservative alarm
and indignation in 1.-THE south"
had died down. some attempt
was made to study the prob
lens of remote Darwin. Even
.tually the federal Parliament
agreed that it should have at
least a voice. The constitution
provides that Parliament may
make such provision as it
thinks at for the parliament
tary representation of any
territory.
Parliament decided it was
fitting that the Northern Ter
ritory should have a member,
provided that he did not have
a vote which might upset the
political balance in a legiS-
lature then of only rs mem
bers where party strengths
were often close. The first
member for the Northern Ter
ritory entered Parliament in
1922. He was Harold Nelson,
leader of the Darwin "rev-
obituaries" of 1919.
In 1929, the current govern
ment gave the Northern Ter
ritory representative the right
to vote on any motion "for
the disallowance of an ordi-
nance of the territory" and as
he himself could move such q
motion it meant that in fact
he could play a part in in
huencing policy in his con-
stituency.
That right has been in
corporated in the law creating
representation for the Au-
Stralian Capital Territory
This was a series Of small
sheep farms when New South
Wales coded the region in
1908. Many sheep farms are
still in the large rural area
around Canberra. A favorite
subject for tourist cameras is
the sight of sheep grazing near
Parliament House as shep-
herds drive them from one
part of the territory to an
other.
Both Have Assurances
Both the Australian Capital
and Northern Territories have
been assured that, in spite Of
tho YNr0uiSioY7 1Indo1. Nxyhin11