AUSTRALIA'S CAPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1920, Page 12

AUSTRALIA'S CAPITAL.

THE CANBERRA PROJECT, "A MONSTROUS WRONG." A request that the Federal Government should make a definite announcement regarding the establishment of the Federal capital at Canberra was made to the Federal Honorary Minister (Senator Russell) recently by a deputation of officers of the Australian Federal Capital League. Mr. W. Brooks, M.L.C., said the' league's first request was that the Prince of Wales should be asked to lay the foundation-stone, either of Parliament House or some other important building, on the site of the Federal capital. It was also asked that the Government would set some definite period within which it pledged itself to do what was necessary to establish the capital at Canberra. If the Government undertook .to establish the capital in five years, it would not be faced with an immediate heavy expenditure. The probabilities were that the first year's expenditure would not exceed £200,000, and the second year's £250,000. The time had arrived when the Federal Government should carry out the compact entered into 20 jears ago. The true Federal spirit could not be generated untjl the seat of Parliament was in Federalterri- | t'ory.

Mr. Justice Heydon described the position as anomalous and unjust. As the matter stood at present, lie said, it had the appearance of an enormous confidence trick. A compact had been made, and New South Wales had kept her part. She had given 900 square miles of territory, the shores of Jervis Bay, and the iianks of the Snowy ltiver—and for all that she had received nothing of the slightest value. On the contrary, the people in the territory she had given had become disfranchised and placed in a position of most extraprdinary injustice; while another • part of Australia, which had not paid a farthing for the privilege, enjoyed al! the benefits of central Government. It was inconceivable. No government, could expect to retain the support of the people of New South Wales if it allowed this monstrous wrong to continue. Senator Russell said he agreed with a good deal of what had been said. There would probably be some difficulty, however, in having a foundation-stone laid by the Prince. It would be impossible to have the foundation-stone of any public building ready in time, but in some way the capital would be marked by the visit of the Prince. Some temporary arrangement would be made. The Government had already announced that immediate steps would be taken to ascertain the minimum expenditure involved in transferring the capital to Canberra. He was also instructed by Mr. Hughes to say that he sympathised with the. request regarding the Prince, and would do everything in his power to induce the Prince to accede to the request.