AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 105, 23 June 1900, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTS.

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL. [PER PKBSB (Received 22, 9.5S a.m.) Sidney, June 22. In the Assembly, Sir W. J. Lyne moved a motion declaring th*t while the House would prefer the Commonwealth unamended, nevertheless the amendments iu Clause 74 were not a sufficiently important departure from the intention of tho original Bill to justify any action which would c*use further delay in consummating the union. Mr. Meaghpr moved an amendment that in no case thould the appeal to the Privy Council be altered. After debate, the amendment was negatived and the motion carried on the voices. (Received 22, 10 am.) Sydney, June 22. In the course of the debate on Sir W. J. Lyne's motion, tho mover stated that he had consulted legal authorities before submitting the resolution. The Attorney-General gave an interpretation of the clause, wbiub did not depart in any important matter from the original Bill. He urged acceptance in the interests of speedy federation. An'ti-Fedtralists in England were exerting influence to prevent the passage of the Bill, Mr. Norton said he was not prepared to trust the High Court upon all matters. Mr. Garruthers obj acted to the High Court having power to say whether or not any appeal should be allowed by the Privy Council. Mr. Reid declared that after endeavouring to see some clear meaning of the matter he must absolutely give the whole conundrum up. He suggested that the Government make the continuance of the debate a matter for a trial of strength. After weeks of thought the solution offered by the best intellects of the Empire had become exploded. It was an absurd and mischievous principle. Mr. Cook urged the nesessity for bringing combined pressure to bear on the Imperial Government in reference to the Pacific cable, otherwise nothiug would be done. The Postmaster-General said the matter was under consideration, and nothing would be done without consulting Parliament. The House adjourned till Tuesday. Adelaide, Jim > 22 In the Assembly, Sir W F. Downer, speaking on the Address-in-Keply, said the last compromise on clause 74 added to the complications and left Australia a great deal worse off. They had gained nothing but an empty appearance of local government.