FEDERATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2910, 10 March 1891, Page 2

FEDERATION.

TILE FEDKRAL CONVENTION.

SPEECH BY SIR GEORGE GREY,

(lIV KM-XrtUO TKLHGllAl'tt — COI'YIUOHT). Svoxnv, March 7. Thk speeches at yesterday's sitting of tho Convention were not of an animated character. Most of tho speakers were lawyers. The galleries were well filled, partly in anticipation of hearing Sir (ieorca Urey speak. Ho, however, did not feel very well, and did not think it advisablo to speak that day. He may possibly occupy the floor on Monday> March S. The Western Australian delegates to tho Feder tioti Convention have arrived. March It. Mr 11. Wrixon. Victoria, ard the delegates from Western Australia took their soat, at the Federal Convention to-day. Sir Henry l'arkes. on behalf of the older colonies, extended a waim welcome to tho representatives of the newest addition to the free, colonies of Australia. Mr Forrest, Premier, returned thanks. Sir If. Parkes brought forward the question of permitting Mr Steel, who sat tempurarily during Mr Wrix.m's absence, to retain iiis se it without power to vote. Some opposition was shown to the proposal, and eventually it was decided that Mr Steel'should take no further part in the pro Colonel Smith (Victoria) resumed the dobate, and said that though there was no particular enthusiasm in the colonies over federation, there was no opinion against, it. It, wuuld be accepted by tlru country, pruvided it were based on justice _ and equity. Speaking of defence he pointed out there were six hundred thousand men in the colonies of what was known as soldier's age, who formed a defence themselves. He suggested a committee. should he formed to collect evidence on defence, and repmt what form of clause should be inserted in the const itni.ui. _ With reference to the fiscal question, \ ictorta was prepared to enter friendly cnmpetition with the other colonies if dealt with in ail equitable manner. People who had built up industries must nut be sacrificed and he hoped the Convention would adopt a policy of Protection. A fiscal policy must be provided for before they abolished border custom house.- 5 . A'ictori i would not object to free trade among the colonies with protection against the world. Ho looked upon the Senate as a judicial body, or body of advice, and thought the way would be for local Parliaments to elect Senator.-- in groups. If the latter had to cutest, the immense distances which they would be required to represent, wuuld cause the cost to be enormous. He would make it a condition that each colony should have a representative in the Ministry in order to have a modification of tho Tjrilish Con.s«itution. He thought they could let both I [ouscs club together and elect a Ministry. Sir (jJeorpe (Jrey, who was well received on risine, said he thought the proper duty of the trainers of the Rcuresentative cimstitution was to begin with the lowest body upon which the constitution w,.s to to built, thnt is the people, and it was their duty first rather toe >usi:Jertheconstitutioti of Australia and devise from this a pcrfect form of constitution for such States as may join the General (Tovernnienfc. lhey cou.d only hope to win over the colonies by setting forth the ndvnntw which would accrue. He had been much witli the account rrivon by the Kaffirs to Sir W. Loch on his recent vi.-it. of how they became drawn to the BiiuMi Crown and of the blessings they hail received fiom the Queen which made them cling to her devotion and allection, therefore they had only t.o hold nut, and Hie colonies would be made a strong federation. It was a duty of the convention to get a constitution which would enable the States to correct their own constitution. He favoured an electivo Lieutenant-Governor and tint both housesshould be mada responsible to the people. If they studied the constitution of New Zealand they would find that originally each power had tho right to make it's own constitution, and vary it from time to time. He instanced the working of the New Zealand provincial system, which gave all the powers of self-goveanment they , could desire. They would apparently havo some difficulty in defining the powers of the (leneral Government, and tliev must not imitate Amt'.nca by sayim: the States are to be paramount, and to be the sole . possessors of power, as tho inevitable result would be that a time would arrive when I siiine such question as slavery would (listurb the mind of the people at hirge, and

if the majority attempted to dominate o\ei the mmoritv, a dead-lock would occur, and as the parlies became, more equal <m the question, nothing but ciul war would settle it. lie Co'in-jvllo'l them to take steps to prevent the disaster wluJi overtook the Americans. The powers of the Chambers could easily be adjusted, and this, he s,id, was essentially nectary among tiie points to be considered. The dillicultv misiht be prevented in this way. When the General Assembly clwo-'e f o legislate on any subject then the legislation on such a subject should be withdrawn from the Senate. Mo thought the. power of the two chambers might easily be adjusted. Ho referred to the great interest in Federation shown by the J'jiiglish Statesmen who visited the colonies, and he looked to this i.s an «lement»f safety in respect of tho steps which the Jiritish Parliament might lake with respect to conceding our requests. It wns essential to everyone that if the Senate should be elected the people should have the right to say whom the, Governor-! leneral shad be. Let them choose him from wlieie, they will, lie thought tho project useless, unless the people had every oftice open to their competition, and to say that no man should have such an opportunity was a positive cruelty. It would be an incentive to every man to educate himself for tho position. He would like to see the place of the Agent'■ General taken by ofiicers who have direct access to the Sovereign as the Sucretary for Ireland had. It would be of advantage to the colonies to have such othcers moving in the highest circlos. They should occupy office for three or four years, as this would give men another opportunity to educate themselves to fill the position, ihey must legislate so that the future will legislate for itself, and so that, each succeeding generation would blass tho ancestors who had left thorn freodom to fur themselves It would not much matter how the first elections were conducted, provided power wore givc-ai to alter the method in the future as *thev could not tell what political innovations might be made in the principle* of reprcsontation. Federation was comparatively a new invention like electricity, and day by day new modes of administration would be found. Let them therefore open the path to lead on and they would find grateful races follow. One thing lay very close in his mind, that was the religions differences which in past times had prevented men from holding seats in Parliament. Let this federation aay :f the Knglish speaking people chooss to be federated in one great body then men who hail from republics or who hail from monarchies may join us and they can equally advise for the pood of the whole what is necessary for tho common benefit. Novel these doctrines might seem, but there was much in them. Outlaying dependencies were adverse to the creation of a military spirit aud ft longing for war, they would rather see small forces. He did not think they would ever be molested, and if they fostered a military spirit they would cause tho whole world to become standing camps. For heaven's sake let them keep their present position free from the mania which makes liUrope ft standing camp. He entertained the belief that what he asked for would come eventually, if not in a short period. Sir George Grey, in conclusion, was loudly applauded. London*, March 7.

The Spectator, referring to the federal Convention in considers that it started badly, and that it was a fatal mis* take to have allowed representatives of the press to be present. It believes that Sir H. Parkes' >cheir.e will create a bundle of States allied chiefly for defence, and not for true national government, and further, that it is only a cumbrous arrangement for defending Australia.