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AUSTRALIA
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was opened in Melbourne on the 20th of January 1898, but Reid, into conference, armed with a series of resolutions Queensland was still unrepresented; and, after further affirming its desire to bring about the completion of consideration, the draft Bill was finally adopted on the federal union, but asking the other colonies to agree to 16th of March and remitted to the various colonies for the reconsideration of the provisions which were most generally objected to in New South Wales. The other submission to the people. In its main provisions the hill of 1898 followed generally that of colonies interested were anxious to bring the matter to a 1891, yet with some very important alterations. It proposed to speedy( termination, and readily agreed to this course of _ > establish, under the Crown, a federal union of the procedure. Accordingly a Premiers’ conference Bill of Australasian colonies, to be designated the Common- was held in Melbourne at the end of January conTerence, 1898. wealth of Australia. A federal executive council was 1899, at which Queensland was for the first jg99. created, to be presided over by a governorgeneral appointed by the Sovereign. The legislature was to consist of two time represented. At this conference a comhouses—a Senate, in which each colony joining the federation promise was effected, something was conceded to the at its inception was conceded the equal representation of six claims of New South Wales, but the main principles of members ; and a House of Representatives, to consist of, as nearly the Bill remained intact. The Bill as amended was subas possible, twice the number of senators, to which the. pro- mitted to the electors of each colony and again triumphvinces were to send members in proportion to population, with a minimum of five representatives for each of the original federating antly carried in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. states. The principle of payment of members was adopted for In New South Wales and Queensland there were still a the Senate as well as the House of Representatives. The nominative large number of persons opposed to the measure, which principle for the upper house was rejected, both houses being was nevertheless carried in both colonies. New South elective, on a suffrage similar to that existing in each colony for the popular chamber at the foundation of the Commonwealth. Wales having decided in favour of federation, the way The House of Representatives was to be elected for a period of three was clear for a decision on the part of West Australia. years, the term of office of senators was twice that period, but The Enabling Bill passed the various stages in the half the Senate was to retire every three years. The capital of the parliament of that colony, and the question was then Commonwealth was to be established in federal territory. To the federal authority was assigned power to deal with a large number submitted by way of referendum to the electors. The of matters, with the provision that in case of conflict between result of the voting (in five colonies in 1899, and in West federal and state law the former should prevail. Customs and Australia in 1900), was as follows :— excise were to be taken over on the establishment of the Common1899. wealth, and posts and telegraphs, naval and military defence, 107,420 1 for . lighthouses and lightships, beacons and buoys, and quarantine, New South Wales 82,741 1 against on dates to be proclaimed, but without further legislation. A 152,653 / for . uniform tariff of customs and excise was to be imposed within a Victoria 9,804 1 against period of two years, intercolonial trade then becoming absolutely 35,181 / for . Queensland . free. Besides these were many subsidiary provisions usually 28,965 1 against found in federal constitutions, and provisions of a special character 65,990 1 for . South Australia . such as were needed to meet the peculiar conditions of the 17,053
against
Australian states. 44,704 / for . West Australia (1900) 19,691 J against The constitution was accepted by Victoria, South 13,437 f for . Australia, and Tasmania by popular acclamation, but in Tasmania 791 1 against New South Wales very great opposition was shown, the In accordance with this verdict, the colonial draft Bill main points of objection being the financial provisions, equal representation in the Senate, and the difficulty in was submitted to the Imperial Government for legislation the way of the larger states securing an amendment of as an Imperial Act; and six delegates were sent to England the constitution in the event of a conflict with the smaller to explain the measure and to pilot it through the Cabinet states. As far as the other colonies were concerned, it and Parliament. These delegates were—Mr Barton (New was evident that the Bill was safe, and public attention South Wales), Mr Deakin (Victoria), Mr Kingston (South throughout Australia was fixed on New South Wales, Australia), Mr Dickson (Queensland), Mr Parker (West where a fierce political contest was raging, which it was Australia), and Sir Philip Fysh (Tasmania). Under an Act of the British Parliament, dated 9th July recognized would decide the fate of the measure for the time being. The fear was as to whether the statutory 1900, passed under the auspices of Mr Chamberlain, number of 80,000 votes necessary for the acceptance of Secretary of State for the colonies, a proclamation was the Bill would be reached. This fear proved to be well issued, 17th September of the same year, declaring that, founded, for the result of the referendum in New South on and after 1st January 1901, the people of New South Wales showed 71,595 votes in favour of the Bill and Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, 66,228 against it, and it was accordingly lost. In Victoria, Tasmania, and West Australia should be Tasmania, and South Australia, on the other hand, the united in a Federal Commonwealth under the Act> jooo. Bill was accepted by triumphant majorities. _ West name of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Australia did not put it to the vote, as the Enabling Act Act which gave authority for the issue of this proclamaof that colony only provided for joining a federation of tion embodied and established (with such variations as which New South Wales should form a part. _ The had been accepted on behalf of the colonies) the constituexistence of such a strong opposition to the Bill in the tion agreed to at the Premiers’ conference of 1899. It was mother colony convinced even its most zealous advocates cordially welcomed in the mother country, and though its that some changes would have to be made in the con- passage was marked by certain difficulties, finally became stitution before it could be accepted, by the people; law amid signs of general approval. The difficulties consequently, although the general election in New South arose with regard to the right of appeal to the Queen in Wales, held six or seven weeks later, was fought on the Council. By clause 74 of the original Bill this right was federal issue, yet the opposing parties seemed to occupy very seriously curtailed; Mr Chamberlain wished to presomewhat the same ground, and the question narrowed serve it as in the case of Canada, while, in order to disitself down to one as to which party should be entrusted with arm colonial opposition, he suggested that the judicial the negotiations to be conducted on behalf of the colony, committee of the Privy Council should be strengthened with a view to securing a modification of the objectionable by the appointment of four colonial members with the features of the Bill. The new parliament decided to rank of lords of appeal. But after privately conferring adopt the procedure of again sending the Premier, Mr with the Australian delegates he withdrew this suggestion,
