South Wales by act 6 and 6 Victoria, ch»p. 76. That act provided a permanent sum for the Governor, the judicial establishment, various civil services, and religious worship. Of these, the only payments now exempted from the absolute control of the colonial legislature are those for the Governor and for public worship ; not even the stipends of judges being reserved. If the Legislative Council should think fit to alter the payments for the Governor or for the clergy, on these items, and these alone, the royal assent will be necessary. Considering the really infantine state of these new settled colonies, and the fact that they are but just feeling their way not only to self-government, but even to a political existence and social organization, this seems as large a concession as the colonies themselves would be wise to require. When it is left to them to fix the salaries of the whole executive, excepting only thaf of the Governor himself, one sees by the light of European politics how much control is left in their hands. It has been, demanded for them that they should also have what is called " a responsible" executive ; that is, dependant for office on the vote of the Legislative Council. In the present state of things r/e can easily imagine that such a concession would throw all Australia into the bands of political agitators, and rob it of that tranquillity so needful to infant colonies. It is to no purpose to say that Canada enjoys the privilege and uses it without any ruinous consequences. Canada is more than a century in advance of Australia, and in Canada there are peculiar constitutional guarautees, which there will not be in the Australian colonies even under the new bill. At all events let them work and win their way to more thoroughly responsible government. The scheme of federation in the present bill appears to be the same as that in the bill of last session. Though this has been represented in some quarters as a mere fancy, a wanton encroachment upon the freedom of each colony, and totally incompatible with the geographical circumstances of Australia, a little consideration will show that this is really the least ' original, the least arbitrary, the least unnecessary part of the measure. For some time pasta multitude or circumstances has suggested the necessity of that common action which actual federation alone can secure. New South Wales, Port Phillip, or Victoria, as it is now to be styled, and South Australia are but the adjacent shores of one vast territory, with the same rivers running through all three \ while Van Diemea'a Land lies in still closer proximity to the harbours of Victoria. Without a uniform tariff, and
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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 521, 31 July 1850, Page 4
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453Untitled New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 521, 31 July 1850, Page 4
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