THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2173, 10 March 1891, Page 4

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Sydney, March 6. The chief interest at yesterday’s sitting of the Convention was centred in the Hon; Mir Deakin’a effective speech, which showed brilliant debating power, and in the nicely turned speech by Captain Hussell. 1 he debate was continued by Mr E Barton, Sir J Downey, Hon. A ,T Thyne, M.L.C. (Queensland), Hon. R C Baker, M.L.C. (South Australia), Hon. B 8 Bird, M-H.R. (Tasmania), and Sir Patrick Jennings (Queens land). The convention then adjourned until Monday. March 7. The speeches at yesterday’s sitting of the Convention were nat of an animated character. Most of the speakers were lawyers. The galleries were well filled, partly in anticipation of hearing Mr George Grey speak He, however, did not feel very well, and did pot think it advisable to speak, that day. He may probably occupy the floor on Monday. The Western Australian delegates to the Federal Convention have arrived.

The'following is a synopsis of the speech delivered by Captain Russell on Wednesday: Captain Russell, (New Zealand) said that it had been supposed that a federal spirit did not exist in New Zealand. Owing to the fact that he had merely to fill in the time to the luncheon adjournment he did not intend to go fully into the broad subject opened by the resolutions. The great question was whether the Australian colonies would form themselves into a State to which all colonies unrepresented could eventually attach themselves. The great object in the Federal Constitution should be to frame a constitution that the remote colonies could join in when they saw fit. It had been said that they should have entire power. That was the truism which had almost become a fetish. ‘ On every question the power rested with the majority, and that majority was often bare or narrow. The power should rest with the people. He ventured to affirm that a Senate 1 might the more properly represent the people of Australia than a House. They were speaking for a large territory now unoccupied, and if they said that sole power should rest with those representing the colonised portion of Australasia how could they have true Federation ? They must give the Senate full power to numerically represent the whole of Australia. They should bear in mind that if they 1 adopted the present system of responsible government—and he might remark by the way that a large section of the New Zealand public were beginning to doubt the benefits of responsible government — great public questions would be often ■subordinated to personal popularity, and to who was to be Premier, etc. ? A stonewall would be set up periodically, he might almost say perpetually, to prevent the majority giving expression to their views. Under responsible government they had failed to get a true expression of the will of the people. If they gave considerable power to a senate) that state of affairs would be diminished, So soon as Australasia developed nationality so soon would it become a power. Dealing with foreign powers, the system of turning out Governments, and the /constant shuffling of cards, would become a great inconvenience. When they had ambassadors this would interfere with the foreign policy of Australia, and it would therefore be neeessary to introduce some cheek. The reason why he thought that they should have a system of Federation as loose as possible was that all the outlying portions must ha uflpwpd to work out ffaeir own destiny. They in New Zealand practically had a foreign policy, having to deal with races. The Convention must agree that they would require to be safe-guarded jn this respect, before they committed themselves to the Federal policy, If Australia went in for New Guinea the people in that island would require to be dealt with with the greatest care. There was nothing in the resolution which showed that any foreign rape was intended to be dealt with. Again, in regard to what was known as the social upheaval, ©very colony must he left to deal with the matter in its own way. In matters like that men would appeal to rather than to the 'Federation. Australia jp the plenitude of its power should haye such a federation as would attract by its centripetal force all the remote parts. In iim® tP come, when the islands of the South Bjeaa become a power themselves, if we are the of power these islands will be drawn to us, Xfad question is yet to be resolved whether America will not divert the trade of the South Seas to herself. Therefore the scheme of Federation should be so loose at to prevent these atoms flying off to the United Stales, which will probably occur if Australian statesmen do not prevent it. New Zealand was not inimical to Federation. The colonists wepa unwilling to abrogate their internal powers pf management, but there were all sorts of laws which might be assimilated to those of Federation. With respect to trade Australia was important to New Zealand, and it would be a great loss to Jose her trade, but it would be an equally great loss to Australia to be deprived of tbp products of New Zaa laud, He venturp/jl to py that New

Zealand had other markets than Australia, but the latter, whether she liked it or not, would be forced to take a great part of his colony’s Testable produce. New Zealand was anxious bv every means to develop her trade, they recognised that the marriage laws might be assimilated. In the matter ot land defence they would gain nothing; though in maritime defence they might be benefited. It should be remarked that New Zealand possessed great coal supplies, and those supplies should be brought into close relation with Australia. In the remote future the great harbors of New Zealand .should not be isolated from Australia. With regard to the judiciary proposal of **ir H. Parkes he was not prepared to give a definite opinion, but would be willing to see the laws assimilated as far as possible. As to the executive be confessed that his mind was nebulous on that point. Undoubtedly he felt that there were many anomalies in the present form. They must broadly consider the lines on which the federal structure was to bo built;Temembering that" the portion 6£ the Continent at present unrepresented would at some future time have great power.