The Unification of Australia.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 340, 15 June 1894, Page 2

The Unification of Australia.

DETAILS OF SIR GEORGL DIBBS 1 SCHEME, [PEB FBEB9 ASSOCIATION.! Sydney, June 14 Sir George Dibbs' letter to Sir J. Pat* terson, containing details of his unification scheme, has been published. He proposes one Viceroy for the two colonies' one Parliament with two chambers, and one tariff and excise, joint debt, and joint railwnv management, land revenue, land law, defence and postal and telegraphic administration. The Provincial Governments are to have wide local powers. The surplus revonne of the supreme Govern ment is to be apportioned to the provinces, partly on a population basis and partly on an occupied mileage area basis. Certain departments of public service are to be removed from politicial influence, and have their headquarters — somo in Sydney, some ih Melbourne. One High Commissioner's establishment in London is suggested, and one Supreme Court. The title of the Federation is to be *' The United Colonies," until the others come in, when it should be "Dominion of Australia "or" United Australia.". Under the Commonwealth Bill drafted by the Federation Convention, an additional charge of £1,325,000 per annum would have been involved, but effective unity on the other hand could save the two colonies at least £1 ,440,000 by reduced interest on debt, grain in railway administration, and savings in other departments. This Day. The Sydney Morning Herald says it will never bo anything more than a dream and the whole scheme is a visionary one and would be a waste of time to criticise details. Tho Daily Telegraph looks upon the scheme as the practical annexation of Victoria and its two distinctive features are originality and audacity ; orginal because no federationist other than Sir G. Dibbs would dream of confusing unification with federation and audacious because of its proposal to sweep two colonies out of esigteuco nnd create % new one. ;