FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 125, 24 April 1897, Page 2

FEDERAL CONVENTION.

—♦ — Adhi.aiuk, April 21. The question of a Federal capital has been discussed. The deoiss'ou has heen left to the Federal Parliament. The new financial scheme provides that accounts shall bo kept between all States of Cus'cans due to each on linn u consumption for cue year only, namely, the first year in which a uniform tut iff prevails. Special concessions will be made to New South Wales, or in any cise in which the Customs rise or fall above ilie average ascertained on the population basis, for instance, if the average contributed was 40s per head, then if New South Walts; coLtributod 50s, a sliding s.cale would be adopted, until the en 1 of (ho years. Winn u uniform per capita distribution was reached the 10s due to New South Wales would be icturncd at the rate of 2s per year till 40s was reached, a similar process bringing the other clonus up to the standard, sj that Tasmania, upon contributing Ms, would receive back more than it had contributed. The proposal to secure the inalienation of federal lands was negatived by 21 to 13. The Convention to-day adopted an add'ess of congratulation to the Queen on the completion of her reign of sixty years. It was practically settled that the next Convention should sit in Sydney. The duration of the House ol Represin'atives Was altered from four to three years. An amendment, to make the honorarium £.300, ins'eid of £4OO, was lost hy 2(3 to !). The disqualification of persons holding Government contracts from holding seats in Parliament caused keen discussion. An amendment making the disqualification app'y more generally b ought the members of the legal piofe:S:oii to their feet. "If lawyers were to be included it would mean the less of then' practice, 1 ' said one member ; but the Victoiiaus showed that the profc siou in that colony were debarred taking briefs on feluilf of the Government under the. sime circumstances. Mr Kin.ston wished ti go further, and prevent members of Parliament being shareholders in trading companies which might accept business from the Government. 'I lie amendment was canted, but Mr Kingston's suggestion was entertained. The committee debated the new financial druses, and it was resolved that dating the first time years after the establishment of the Commonwealth the yearly expenditure should not exceed three hiu.dred thou and, and the total yearly expenditure of the Commonwealth in the pel to: manee of its services, a d the exercise of the powers transferred from the States to the Common wealth should not txce d one mi lion and aquaiter. The principle of the new clause is on the l'ms forecasted this morning. After some delate, the new clauses foimcd by the treasurers, dealing with the distribution cf the surplus, passed without amendment. Under the Enabling Act the second Convention must meet within 120 day*. AsMrßcid and Mr Kingston will be ab'e to return from England wi'hin that ] eriod if it dates from the conclusi n of llie present gathering, it has been arranged to formally cdjouin to May sth. Mr Kings'on soi.l the South Australian delegates would meet on that date and adjourn the Convention to Septf ml er 2nd, at Sydney. In the debate on the financial clauses Mr Fj sh said, while admitilii* that at the. end of five }<ars tha position of Tasmanii would he equal to that of any other e lony in regard tc the return of the surplus, me nubile the colon} would I e left practically high and dry. Each individual Slate should receive during the five years a sum not less than the sum she would have received in the year prior to the imposition of uniform duties. Mr Reed thought Mr Fysh's argument practically worthless, seeing in one could tell what the uniform tat iff would he. He recognised that the interests cf seme States might be jeopardised for a time. St 11 it was the only chance of bringing about federation. The scheme was one which substantially got over the difficulty with a minimum of inconvenience, and was the scheme he would be lest ab'e to ask the people of New Scuth Wales to accept.