Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/413

 1899.] Australasia. — New South Wales. [405

In reply to the objections to the Federal Bill raised by Western Australia Mr. Beid on behalf of the Australian Premier, wrote to Sir John Forrest, the Western Australian Prime Minister, pointing out the utter impossibility of reconsidering the details of the federal scheme and urging the submission of the bill to the peopla

Though not directly connected with confederation, nor likely to be attended with consequences injurious to the pros- pects of the Federal Bill, it is a fact, not altogether of good omen for the cause of unity, that the five Australian Prime Ministers who were most active in promoting the Federal Bill were all turned out of office during the year — the only one maintaining his power being Sir John Forrest, the leading opponent of the measure. All the new Governments, however, accepted confederation, and there is no reason to believe that the political changes in the Constitution of the colonies will injure or delay the final accomplishment of a federal union — the questions agitating the local Parliaments being such as are likely to be continued in the Federal Parliament.

The feeling excited at home over the trial of Captain Dreyfus and the Bennes verdict, found an echo in the colonies. At large meetings in Sydney and Melbourne unanimous resolutions were passed in condemnation of what one of the Governors called "the hideous travesty of justice."

The tripartite treaty between England, Germany and the United States regarding Samoa was received with regretful acquiescence. The transfer of Samoa to Germany was not supposed to be balanced by the recognition of the British right over the Tongas, seeing that there never was any question of German rights over the Tongas, and the trade between both groups of islands and Great Britain was by far larger than between them and any European Power. The stipulation that all goods imported into Samoa shall be subject to the same duties has done something, however, to remove the Australian objections to the transfer, in which New Zealand, from its geographical position, was most nearly concerned.

The revenues of all the colonies showed a marked in- crease during the year. They were all prosperous, and every branch of industry was flourishing, in spite of long-continued droughts.

New South Wales. — In response to a deputation from dis- tressed agriculturalists in the interior, Mr. Beid, the Prime Minister, promised to bring forward a measure for their relief. A bill for advancing 200,000Z. to small settlers on certain conditions was carried through both Houses of Parliament on March 23.

A special session of Parliament to consider the Federal Bill was opened on February 22. The Federal Enabling Bill passed the Assembly on March 3.

Upon the bill reaching the Legislative Council the Upper