THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Hastings Standard, Issue 426, 15 September 1897, Page 3

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

f Per Press Association. —C'opyriyht. } Sydney, Sept. 11. At the Convention this afternoon an addition was made to the clause conferring solo power on the House of originating appropriation or imposing taxation, by giviug power to the Senate to initiate laws providing for the imposition and appropriation of fines, or other pecuniary penalties, or for a demand for the payment or appropriation of fees for licenses, or for services, so long as it does not impose taxation or appropriate the public revenue. The Westralian Legislature sought to give the Senate the right to impose taxation, but the debate was marked by several representatives of the smaller States receding from the position taken up in Adelaide, recognising that equal powers in the Senate would be fatal to the chances of federation, and regarding such an amendment as calamitous. Popular control of the finances was the basic principle of aDy constitution of British type; if they wanted equality they must pay share and share alike, or else they would never get it. The debate continued through the afternoon. Several delegates from Tasmania and "Westralia followed the example set early in the discussion, and departed from their strongly expressed views at Adelaide in favor of equal rights, and joined the ranks of the opponents of co-ordiuate powers. The Hon. E. Barton urged them to stand by the clause ; he was convinced that with proper safeguards the bill was one they could safely commend to their constituents. By 28 to 19 the amendment to grant egual powers was rejected,