FEDERATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1333, 28 April 1885, Page 3

FEDERATION.

London, April 24. The Colonial Federation Enabling Bill was read a second time in the House of Lords last night. During the debate on the second reading of the Federation Enabling Bill in the House of Lords, Lord Derby said the abstension of New South Wales from federation might possibly raise a fatal objection to the measure. The action of the Government of that colony was inspired by a doubt and not by hostility to the Bill, and a clause had been inserted mainly to remove these objections. Be thought colonists would accept the decision of Parliament in the matter. Earl Delaware considered that the complete union of the colonies was impossible at present, although it would be madness to reject the scheme. He approved ot the objections by the colonies to secession, which have been printed and circulated by the AgentsGeneral. Lord Carnarvon thought that omission of clause 31, providing for the withdrawal of any colony, would postpone federation for years. Lord Bury said the Bill would be a leap in the dark pending the decision of New South W ales. The Times says federation without New South Wales would prove of little value, April 26. The South Australian Government have agreed to accept the amended Federation Enabling Bill, but New Zealand urges the withdrawal of the measure pending the unity of the colonies on the question. The objections of the Agents-General for Victoria and Queensland to the secession clause have been printed.