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Enclosure 1. Fedeeal Council of Austbalia Bill, [h.l.] Arrangement of Glauses. 1. Definitions. 18. Power to Her Majesty to disallow Act to which 2. Institution of Federal Council. Governor has assented in Her Majesty's name. 3. Power to make laws. 19. Bills reserved for signification of Her Majesty's 4. Session of Council. pleasure. 5. Constitution of Council. 20. Acts of Council, when assented to, to have force of law. 6. Appointment of representatives and tenure of office. 21. Publication of Acts. 7. Place of sitting of Council. 22. Acts of Council to supersede colonial enactments, if 8. Summoning and prorogation of Council. inconsistent. 9. Governors of colonies to report names of represen- 23. Standing orders for conduct of business. tatives. 24. Committees of Council. 10. Vacancy in representation not to affect Acts of 25. Officers and servants. Council. 26. Mode of defraying expenditure of Council. 11. Special sessions of Council. 27. Payment of contributions by colonies. 12. President of Council. 28. Evidence of proceedings. 13. Quorum, and voting. 29. Power to make representations to Her Majesty. 14. Oath or affirmation to be taken by members. 30. Commencement of Act in respect of any colony. 15. Matters subject to legislative authority of Council. 31. Power to determine operation of Act in any colony. 16. Powers to Governors to refer questions for determina- 32. Short title. tion of Council. Schedule. 17. Eoyal assent to Bills passed by Council. A Bill intituled an Act to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia. Wheebas it is expedient to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia, for the purpose of dealing with such matters of common Australasian interest, in respect to which united action is desirable, as can be dealt with without unduly interfering with the management of the internal affairs of the several colonies by their respective Legislatures : Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of Her Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : —■ 1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise require, the following terms shall bear the meanings set opposite to them respectively : — " Colonies." The colonies (including their respective dependencies) of Fiji, New Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, and the Province of South Australia, and any other colonies that may hereafter be created in Australasia, or those of the said colonies in respect to which this Ac* is in operation : " Crown colony." Any colony in which the control of public officers is retained by Her Majesty's Imperial Government: "Her Majesty's possessions in Australasia." The colonies and such other territories as Her Majesty may from time to time declare by Order in Council to be within the operation of this Act: " Council." The Federal Council as hereby constituted : " Governor." The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or other officer administering the government of the colony referred to, with the advice of his Executive Council, in which case the word shall mean the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or such other officer alone. 2. There shall be in and for Her Majesty's possessions in Australasia a Federal Council, constituted as hereinafter provided, and called the Federal Council of Australasia, which shall have the functions, powers, and authority hereinafter denned. 3. Within such possessions Pier Majesty shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, to make laws for the purposes hereinafter specified, subject to the provisions herein contained respecting the operation of this Act. 4. A session of the Council shall be held at least in every two years. 5. Each colony shall be represented in the Council by two members, except in the case of Crown colonies, which shall be represented by one member each. Pier Majesty, at the request of the Legislatures of the colonies, may, by Order in Council from time to time, increase the number of representatives for each colony. 6. The Legislature of any colony may make such provision as it thinks fits for the appointment of the representatives of that colony, and for determining the tenure of their office. 7. The first session of the Council shall be held at Hobart, in the Colony of Tasmania. Subsequent sessions shall be held in such colony as the Council shall from time to time determine. 8. The Council shall be summoned and prorogued by the Governor of the colony in which the session shall be held ; and shall be so summoned and prorogued by Proclamation, published in the Government Gazettee of each of the colonies ; and shall meet at such time and at such place as shall be named in the Proclamation. 9. The Governor of each colony shall from, time to time transmit to the Governors of the other colonies the names of the members appointed to represent the colony of which he is Governor. 10. Notwithstanding any vacancy in the representation of any colony, the Council shall be competent to proceed to the despatch of business, and to exercise the authority hereby conferred upon it. 11. At the request of the Governors of any three of the colonies, a special sitting of the Council shall be summoned to deal with such special matters as may be mentioned in the Proclamation convening it. Until the Council shall make other provision in that behalf any such special session shall be summoned by the Governor of Tasmania, and shall be held at Hobart. 12. The Council shall in each session elect one of its members to be president.