Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/677

 AUSTRALASIAN FEDERATION 329

entering the Feilciation at the time of its establishment shall have a smaller representation than five members. Although the Federal Parliament will have power to alter the franchise on which its members will be elected, yet it can only do so in the direction of the extension of the voting powers of the people, so that in Xew Zealand and South Australia the right of women to vote cannot be witlidrawn by the central authority so long as adult suffrage prevails in those states. JJoth senators and Representatives are to receive an annual payment of 400^. each.

It is proposed that immediately on the establishment of the Common- wealth the Federal Government shall assume the administration of the departments of customs and excise, and, on dates to be afterwards pro- claimed, shall also take over from the states, posts and telegraphs, naval and military defence, light-houses, lightships, beacons and buoys, and quaran- tine; and shall have exclusive powers of dealing with these services. Power is also given to the federal authority to deal with a large number of other matters of government, but only the services specified are to be transferred without further legislation. In the event of the federal law conflicting with an existing state law, the federal law shall prevail. Within two years of the establishment of the Commonwealth a uniform customs and excise tariff is to be imposed bj- the Federal Government, and inter- colonial trade will then become absolutely free; but "Western Australia, in consideration of its special circumstances, will be allowed to retain inter-colonial duties in diminishing proportion for five years. The Federal Government is re(|uired to raise from customs and excise, though other sources of taxation are left open, four times the amount required for its own purposes, and to return the excess to the local treasuries. This repayment Avill for the first five years be in proportion to the contributions of the colonies, and afterwards as the Federal Parliament may decide. With the consent of the states, the central government may take over the state railways, and also the state debts, paying interest out of the surplus customs and excise revenue. For the administration of the laws relating to inter-state trade an inter-.state commission is to be established. Preferential railway tariffs may be forbidden, due regard being paid to the financial obligations of the states by which the railways were constructed. The people of each colony Mill have the right to reasonable use of the rivers for conservation or irrigation.

The Senate and House of Representatives, equally, may originate bills, except that only the House of Representatives may originate bills appro- priating or imposing taxation. The Senate will not have power to amend these money bills, but may return them to the other House with suggestions of omissions or of amendments, and with such suggestions the House of Representatives may deal as it pleases. If bills, other than money bills, have twice been passed by the House of Representatives and twice been rejected or shelved by the Senate, the two houses may be simultaneously dissolved, and if, after the new election, they still disagree, the bill in dispute must be submitted to the members of the two Houses in joint sitting, and can only become law if passed by a majority of three-fifths of the members present and voting.

The bill provides also for a High Court of Justice for Australia, which may hear appeals from all Federal courts, from the supreme courts of the states, and from the inter-state commission. Appeals to the Privy Council in constitutional matters are forbidden, and the Federal Parliament may limit the right of a]>peal to the Piivy Council in other matters. The Federal Constitution can only l»e amended by an absolute majority of the members of each House; and the ainendnient shjill become law if, having been submitted