FEDERATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2912, 14 March 1891, Page 2

FEDERATION.

(liY ELECTRIC TKi.Ki: R \ .'II. —(M I' Villi i 1IT.) SVIINKY, Ma-cl) 13. CoNSir>EUA!'!-i: amazement was created lit the Convention ves(enl >v mi tliß receipt nf a telegram from the, i'■ ■ 1 ■ i'T "f Warnambool urging the claims nf I h it town to he selccLed as the capital nf the l-'.-ili■ r-.iti m. Tliero was nothing I' nticnlarly striking m yesterday's debates beyond tho (inures quoted by Mr McMillan. The result nf the debate shows that ail thu diili<(?.ttM oxcpt

Messrs Mnnro and Deakin are mutually unanimous on tho question i.f State right--. Tho Sydney Morning Herald, commenting oil thu attitude nf Xew Zealand, says it is useless for thiit colony to dream nf n voiding Federation, and securing frea commercial intercntirse with the Federation. Federatinn and reciprocity must go together. The Herald urges N'cw /-aland t > join, and points nut it will be a vain hope tn suppose that thu federal t.arilf will contain any "|favourcd-na'ion " clause.

Sir Henry Parkes began his reply this morning, by ottering Ins unqualified Congratulations tn the delegates • -M tho sense of public duty, which characterised their speeches. He was snrry tn hear tho tnne of reservo maintained liv the West Australian delegates, and reminded them that tho larger colonies would have tn make sacrifices as well as the .small one. X'o colony, for instance, was so woll able tn do without federation as his own, which hud a much larger degree nf private wealth than any other colony. Federation muse he entered upon by the will of the people, and be inalienable. They might ask what need there is for tho change, but the time had enme when a larger form of Government was needed to work out their destiny, which tho progress and enterprise of the colonies demanded. Take defenca, it was true, they were not exposed to any form of war their forefathers had to fear, but there were always plenty of wolves to find the lamb who muddied tho water. Ho particularly referred tn China as a power they had t i guard against. Napoleon had said the Chines-?, when once m isters of European •ii'ts, would conquer the world, and he believed they were awakening to the power tor purposes of war that their immense population gives them. The Federal Government would also have to construct a tariff and regulate the intercourse of the colonies with one another and with the world. They must take charge of tho manifold interest centering in the ocean which surrounded theiu and they would have to define the colonies from one another which was no light task. He reminded them that a constitution must be formed to meet the approval of tli6 free people nf Australia, and he wis not prepared to accept a transcript of the American Constitution. In the American Senate they sought to create here there wero evidently two entirely different bodies. The Senate they wanted was a dignified Upper Chamber, with a touch of Conservatism. He admitted that the "smaller colonies deserved special but he disagreed with the proposal to give both Houses power over money bills, and with the .suggestion that every colonv should be represented on tho Ministry. The man at the head of the Government should be absolutely free to select his Ministers. He could not see his way to make an nnomolons constitution, merely to suit- Western rVnstrali i, and if she could not see her way to join without m iking sacrifices, she could not sea her way clear to give, she must wait her chance to come into the Federation. Speaking generally he thought the wisest course to arrive at a definite result would be to as soon as possible agree on the vital provisions nf a Hill as to the construction of the Parliament., the and the relation of the smaller States. That once done a measure could be, framed in four-and-tweuty hours. He concluded by asking them to show a spirit of mutual forbearance and compromise to enable them to bring about their

object as soon as possible. Mi" Abbott was appointed Chairman of Committee", and oti the mnti'in of Sir Henry l'arkes the Convention went into Committee. Loniion', March ]'J. Lord Carrinston was entertained at a bamjuet by the City Liberal Club last night.. Koplyi tig to one of the toasts ho made reference to the Federal Convention at present sitting in Sydney, and said that the federation of the Australian colonies would one dav h»lp to consolidate the nninn between Australia auri (ireafc I!rlt'.iin, Nationalism, he thought, had made Australia confident of its own strength, but it had not in the slightest impaired the. friendship existing between Australia and Ensland. Lord Carrineton denied that the republican party in England were stronger than the Loyalists, because all the Loyalists showed no trace whatever of bitter and nndenyiiiff hatred towards the liiil) psopls. ___________