The imports into Great Britain from the colony consist mostly of wool, pearl shells, and timber. The value of the wool imports was 146,2027. in 1878, 265,1807. in 1888, 251,7657. in 1895, 339,7057. in 1896. 265,0837. in 1897. The quantity of wool imported into Great Britain in 1897 was 9,486,272 lbs. The chief exports from Great Britain to the colony in 1897 were iron, value 472,5427.; apparel, 200,5387.; beer and ale, 87,8337.; cottons, 95,0507. ; machinery, 289,2947.; leather, 75,0087. Shipping and Communications. There were on the West Australian register on December 31, 1897, 17 steamers of 3,898 tons, and 135 sailing vessels of 5,812 tons; total, 152 vessels of 9,710 tons. In 1897, 721 vessels of 1,196,760 tons entered, and 707 of 1,181,072 tons cleared, the ports of the colony. There were 1,456 miles of railway open for traffic on 30th June, 1898 including 464 miles of private line), and 360 miles under construction. On 31st December, 1897, there were 5,958 miles of telegraph poles within the colony, 8,111 miles of wire, and 965 miles under construction. Two wires, one from Albany and a second via Coolgardie, extend to South Australia, and Roebuck Bay is connected with Banjowangie by the alternative cable of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Cable Company. The number of stations on 31st December, 1897, was 142. The number of messages sent was 1,306,003, the expenditure amounted to 261,3287., which includes the Post Office expenditure; and the net revenue from telegraphs alone to 98,6967. In 1897 there passed through the Post Office 12,898,552 letters and postcards, inclusive of registered letters, 6,744,536 newspapers, and 3,952,025 packets, each counted once only. Money and Credit. There are six banks in Western Australia besides the Post Office Savings Bank. The following statement relates to the quarter ended March 31, 1898 : Bank of Australasia. 1,600,000 54,862 396,925 456,479 379,158 857,997 Total of average 10,114,547 336,611 3,581,701 4,034,449 5,598,850 3,087,059 Government Savings Bank.-During the year ended 30th June, 1897, deposits of the value of 1,068,3221. were made, and interest 17,3347. was allowed. The amount withdrawn during that year was 690, 1837., leaving a balance of 856,0847. on deposit on 30th June, 1897. During the year ended 30th June, 1897, deposits of the value of 1,068,3221. were made, and interest 17,3347. was allowed. The amount withdrawn during the year was 690,1837., leaving a balance of 856,0847. on deposit on 30th June, 1897. Agent-General in London.-The Hon. E. H. Wittenoom. Statistical Register, 1896. Books of Reference. Census of the Colony of Western Australia, taken on the 5th April, 1891. Fol. Perth. Department of Lands and Surveys. Report for 1897. Perth, 1898. Geological Survey. Bulletins. Perth, 1898. Calvert (A. F.), Western Australia: Its History and Progress. 8. London, 1894. Western Australia and its Gold Fields, 8, London, 1893. My Fourth Tour in Western Australia London, 1897. Carnegie (Hon. D. W.), Spinifex and Sand, London, 1898. Chambers (T.), Land of Promise. Perth, Cowen (L. L.), Settler's Guide. Perth. Favenc (Ernest), Western Australia: its Past History, Present Trade and Resources, and its Future Position in the Australian Group. Sydney, 1887, Hart (F.), Western Australia in 1893, 8, London, 1894. Mennell (P.), The Coming Colony. 2nd. ed. 8. London, 1894. Price (J. M.), The Land of Gold, 8. London, 1896. Tiele (C. P.), Western Australia according to the most recent discoveries. An address [Translation]. 8. London, 1894. Sydney is a first-class naval station, the head-quarters of the British fleet in Australasia. In 1898 there were 11 imperial war vessels on the station. By the "Australasian Naval Force Act," which was assented to on December 20, 1887, a fleet of five fast cruisers, each of 2,575 tons displacement and 7,500 horse-power, and two torpedo gunboats on the most improved modern build, each of 735 tons and 4,500 horse-power, have been equipped for the Australian seas. An agreement which has been entered into for a period of ten years, afterwards terminable by two years' notice, provides that the vessels shall be built by the British Government, and that those of the Australian colonies who are parties to the agreement shall pay interest at the rate of 5 per cent. on the original cost, and the cost of maintenance which is not to exceed 91,000. In 1897 the total subsidy, amounting to 126,000l. was distributed thus: New South Wales, 37,820%. ; Victoria, 34,2447.; Queensland, 13,7627.; South Australia, 10,4997; Western Australia, 4,0207.; Tasmania, 4,8417.; New Zealand, 20,8147. Upon the termination of the agreement the vessels will remain the property of the British Government. These vessels the cruisers Katoomba, Tauranga, Ringarooma, Mildura, and Wallaroo, and the torpedo-gunboats Boomerang and Karakatta-are attached to the Australian Squadron. Under the agreement with the colonies they are not to be removed from the station in case of war. The imperial expenditure upon additional naval force for service in Australasian waters is 95,300l., the appropriations in aid are 35,000l., so that the charge upon the imperial exchequer amounts to 60,300l. (Naval Estimates, 1898-99.) The principal ports of the seven colonies are protected by fortifications, and forts have been erected at King George's Sound and Thursday Island, the cost being shared by the different colonies. Australasian Federation. The question of the Federation of the Australian Colonies is by no means new. About the year 1852, a proposal was made for the establishment of a General Assembly to make laws in relation to intercolonial questions. The proposition, however, sank out of sight, until, as the result of an Intercolonial Conference, the matter came before the Imperial Parliament, and a measure was passed permitting the formation of a Federal Council, to which any Colony could send delegates. The first meeting of the Federal Council was held at Hobart, in January, 1886. The Colonies represented were Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Fiji. South Australia sent representatives to a subsequent meeting. The Federal Council, however, being purely a deliberative body, failed to satisfy the advocates of Federation as an active political principle. In February, 1890, a Conference, consisting of representatives of each of the seven Colonies of Australasia, was held in Melbourne, and it was resolved that steps should be taken towards the appointment of delegates from each of the Colonies to a National Australasian Convention, empowered to consider and report upon an adequate scheme for a Federal Constitution. On March 2, 1891, the Convention met at Sydney. Resolutions approving of a Federal Constitution were passed, and a draft Bill to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia was adopted, but it failed to satisfy the several Colonies. In January, 1895, the Premiers of five of the Colonies held a Conference at Hobart, and, as a result of their action, a Convention of representatives of all the Colonies, except Queensland, met at Adelaide in March, at Sydney in September, 1897, and at Melbourne in February, 1898. In March a Draft Bill was finally adopted for submission to the Colonies. This Draft Bill provides for the federation of the colonies under the Crown, with the designation of the Commonwealth of Australia. The executive power is vested in a Governor-General-to be appointed by the Queen-assisted by a Federal Executive Council; and it is provided that the seat of government shall be established in federal territory. The parliament is to consist of two houses-the Senate and the House of Representatives-both to be elected by the people on the franchise existing in the various states for the popular body at the time of union-the Senate for a period of six years, and the House of Representatives for a period of three years. Every state joining the Federation at its inception is entitled to an equal representation of six members in the Senate; and it is provided that half the number of senators shall retire every three years, but shall be eligible for re-election. The number of members of the House of Representatives is to be, as near as possible, twice the number of senators, the states to be represented in proportion to population, and it is provided that no state entering the Federation 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 New Zealand and South Australia the right of women to vote cannot be withdrawn by the central authority so long as adult suffrage prevails in those states. Both senators and Representatives are to receive an annual payment of 400l. each. It is proposed that immediately on the establishment of the Commonwealth the Federal Government shall assume the administration of the departments of customs and excise, and, on dates to be afterwards proclaimed, shall also take over from the states, posts and telegraphs, naval and military defence, light-houses, lightships, beacons and buoys, and quarantine; 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 by 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 required 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 will 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 custoins 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 will 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 appropriating 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 appeal to the Privy Council in other matters. The Federal Constitution can only be amended by an absolute majority of the members of each House; and the amendment shall become law if, having been submitted by way of referendum, it is accepted by a majority of the people of the Commonwealth and by a majority of the states. In the month of June, 1898, the Constitution Bill was submitted by means of the referendum to the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. The Enabling Acts provided that in the case of New South Wales the minimum affirmative vote should be 80,000; in the case of Victoria, 50,000; and in the case of Tasmania, 6,000; while in South Australia a bare majority of votes was sufficient to secure the acceptance of the Bill. In Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania the Bill was adopted by large majorities; while in the case of New South Wales there was a majority of 5,367 for the Bill, but as the affirmative vote only reached 71,595, the Bill was regarded as rejected. The results of the voting were as follow:- The Bill was not submitted to the popular vote in Western Australia, as the Enabling Act of that colony provided that Western Australia should only join a federation of which New South Wales formed a part. The other colonies also, although legally empowered to federate without New South Wales, tacitly admit that the adhesion of the mother colony must be secured before the final steps are taken. In New South Wales, politicians of all shades of thought are united in their desire for federation, only differing upon the question of the extent to which concessions shall be made for the purpose of securing the desired union, and it is confidently anticipated that within a very short time the Commonwealth of Australia will be called into existence. At a conference of Premiers held at Melbourne in January, 1899, an agreement was come to on all disputed matters. In case of differences between the two Houses of the Legislature, an absolute majority of both will decide. The clause providing for proportionate distribution of surplus revenue among separate States will continue in force for ten years, and may then be repealed, Parliament having in the meantime power to deal with exceptional financial circumstances arising in any of the States. The Federal capital will be within New South Wales, but at least 100 miles from Sydney, and must be Federal territory. Queensland will be allowed to elect Senators by voting in divisions instead of in one electorate. A majority of electors will suffice to secure the bill. Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Australasia generally. 1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Each of the colonies publishes an Annual Blue Book and Statistical Register, containing Annual Reports of the various administrative, industrial, criminal, educational, and other departments. Australasia: Despatch on the subject of a Draft Bill to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia. London, 1884. Australasian Statistics, published annually, with Report, by J. J. Fenton, Assistant Government Statist of Victoria. Melbourne. |