AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 103, 18 June 1900, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

- FIB PBHB ASSOCIATION.] (Reciived 16, 9.20 a.m.) London, June 15. Mr. Dickson has cabled to Mr. Philp that Mr. Haldane considers the Federal compromise narrows rather than extends the right of appeal. (Received 17, 5.15 p.m.) London, June 16. The Bight Hon. J. Chamberlain announced that when the Commonwealth Bill comes up for consideration in Committee stage to-morrow he will embody the new final settlement unanimously approved by the delegates, including the Hon. J, Dickson. All collectively recommend their Premiers to accept Mr. Chamberlain's cabled text of the amendments to Lord Tennyson, Governor of South Australia. Melbourne, June 16. The Hon. Mr. Dickson having left on his return to Australia prior to the Premier's latest instructions as to the Commonwealth Bill reaching him, and failing to receive instructions before be embarked at Marseilles, the Hon. Mr. McLean instructed Sir Andrew Clarke to act for Victoria with the other delegates. (Received 18, 1.50 a.m.) London, June 17. Messrs, Wise and O'Connor have cabled to the Hon. E. Barton the compromise on the expressed federalist opinion, and have advised him „to support the substitution of a High Court Governor for an Executive. This was received just after the final agreement was arranged. Sir C. C. Kingston received a similar message from Messrs. Downer and Symons. The settlement will preserve the finality of the High Court's decision upon matters constitutional and the interpretation as to whether private citizens or Governments are parties to litigation. Though the first compromise, by implication, interfered with the right ot appeal from the decisions of the State Courts to the Privy Council, Mr. Chamberlain said there was no such intention, consequently the delegates readily met his views. Mr. Chambcrbuo, further, did not desire to introduce possible interference of political authority with the course of judicial procedure. Mr. Barton considers a happy solution now has been arranged. The High Court, without derogating the finaliiy of its decisions upon constitutional questions,may, when satisfied that special and important reasons exist, grant a certificate that any question it has decided is the one sought to be determined finally by the Privy Council. This obviates one stage of litigation, since it will be unnecessary to apply to the Privy Council for special leave of appeal. Mr. Barton considers that this makes the High Court a very important tribunal. He thinks the principal objections raised to the first compromise are conclusively met, while the decision of the High Court retains finality; that the Ooort is not subject to the fiat of any Governments, bnt is •object only to the discretionary power vested in itself, though only exercisable upon special reasons, Mr. Barton states that Mr. Deakin cordially concurred in the settlement. Melbourne, June 17. The Cabinet has completed the task of dividing the colony into 23 federal electorates, which give 15 members for the country and 8 for the metropolitan *fcrea.