THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 97, 14 May 1900, Page 3

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

[PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION.) (Beceired 12,11.55 a.m.) London, May 11, The Bight Hon. J. Chamberlain informed the representative of the Westralian Goldfielda Separation Leigue that Sir John Forrest's decision to submit the Commonwealth Bill to a referendum removed the chief grievance of the goldfield petitioners. The Bight Hon. H. H. Asquith, speaking at Colchester, said it would be beet to concede everything that Australia unitedly demands, unless it was manifestly inconsistent with the maintenance of the full integrity of Imperial unity. A BLUB BOOK ISSUED, Received 13, 6.30 p.m. London, May 12. Jl Blue Book dealing with the Commonwealth Bill has bees issued. Mr. Chamberlain, in a final memorandum, declared that the referendum bad not indicated or qualified the ratification of the Bill in every detail of the constitution, and denied that the Privy Council was a Court incapable of defence. He declared that the amendments indicated no mistrust of the celoniee. The four delegates replied that the question of appeal was a vital matter, not a mere detail. In acknowledging Mr. Dickson's explanation of why he had not signed the memorandum of April 27tb, Mr. Chamberlain expressed appreciation of his great services. The Times considers there is aremarksblo consensus ef Australian opinion in favour of the amendments, and expresses confidence that riper judgment even on the part of opponents will justify Mr. Chamberlain's attitude. The Chronicle finds it difficult to understand the Government's cold and formal stickling over every shred and tittle ef the prerogative. Mr. Kingston, in a letter to the newspapers, repudiated as monstrous the suggestion that the claim of Australia to decide a purely Australian question was equivalent to an attempt to dismember the Empire. He dedared that Lord Lamington's extraordinary intrusion into the afiair was unseemly, unconstitutional, and unfair. He ridiculed the protests of Hhiftf Justices Way and Darley, and implied that there was selfishness, in view of the prospective benefits in the shape of peerages. He protested against Mr. Justice Way's extraordinary, extra-judicial and secret intrigue. The Daily Neica says if Australian people are behind the delegates it is idle, mischievous, and dangerous to try and thwart them. If not, then the best solution is to pass a new appellate Bill concurrently with the Commonwealth, leaving the Federal Parliament to adopt a new Court. It protests against Mr. Kingston's suggestion that the Chief Justices are using their influence because they hungered after salaried peerages. The Pall Mail Gazette deprecates Mr. Kingston's personalities, and says if the Government is firm and moderate there will be no prospect of Australia indignantly rejecting the new Court, The Westminster Gazette holds it to be dangerous for the Colonial Secretary to take a hand in Australian politics. The Imperial spirit is not always so strong there. Mr. Chamberlain has expressed a hope that the delegates will not hastily return. It is understood that they will remain for some time.

Mr, Birton, in an interview, said interference in the internal affairs of the Commonwealth is mischievous atd meddlesome, Mr, Chamberlain mainly relying on the opinion of the defeated minority.