Alfred Odgers

“ Fiji and British New Guinea are not yet of such importance as to claim a place in the Union, but eventually they and other islands will be included From the latest statistics we find that the population of the seven colonies is 3,678,046, and their combined area of land 3,075,238 square miles. Its magnitude may be partially realised if we remember that Great Britain and Ireland, with a population of over 37,000,000, have only 121,115 square miles, thus making our new Empire nearly twenty-five times larger than the old. ”

“ The affinities of race, religion, politics, ideas, and national sentiment are exercising mutual attractions. Every telegraph wire that crosses the border is an additional thread to connect, and every railway line a bolt to rivet the colonies together. ”

“ With our vast territory and its splendid resources our united increase should rather be 10,000 per week.
The Federal Parliament.— (1) To be composed of one House only, which shall elect a Premier and an Executive or Minister, (2) To consist of a Governor-General, who shall be its President, seven Colonial Governors, and twenty-one Federal Representatives, making in all twenty-nine members, but giving, when New South Wales and South Australia each form a new colony, a House of thirty-seven members. ”

“ The federation of the Australian Colonies is of national importance. It is not a new question, for "in 1849 Lord Grey advised this step." Had it been accomplished then, or even twenty years later, our population to-day would have been nearer five millions than its present number, viz., about three and a half millions. It is certainly the "coming question;" it is more, it is the coming reality. ”

“ Melbourne, because of its rapid growth and vitality; and Adelaide deserves it because of its suitability every way. Sir Henry Parkes has said that New South Wales will not agree to Melbourne being that city, because, he says it will "give it the lion's share in all things;" but he would be quite willing that Sydney should become so distinguished, and has since said that Albury should be the city. Now there are two modes of getting over the difficulty—one is to hold the Federal Parliament alternately in each city, beginning with Sydney. ”

“ The writer does not hold up Canadian Federation as being perfect. Their Constitution may be improved. Let us gather from them and others that which will just suit in forming our union, and having a right to use the scaffolding with which they finished their great work, we ought, with greater ease, build up a greater and more perfect organisation than theirs. ”

“ It will bind into one common union seven great colonies whose territory is vast, whose resources are prolific, and whose people are loyal—and in these "Southern Seas" shall arise a powerful Empire, whose influence will reach to every civilised nation, and whose good wishes old Empires will be proud to own and strive to maintain. ”

“ In a few words, it is expedient, because it will bring population from Great Britain and elsewhere. It will enable us to borrow from the English market very much cheaper than now. It will lead to capitalists and others investing Trust and other funds, seeing the security we offer is so good. It will give us a uniform gauge of railway-line right through each colony, thus cheapening cost of carriage. It will enable us to thoroughly defend our shores from invasion. It means the adoption of uniform time, tariffs, and taxation. ”

“ Therefore, federal representatives should be chosen from the ranks of the ablest men in the Legislative Council. A writer has said, "that if Australian democracy determines to elect the federal representatives by the voice of the people, and not by the Parliaments, they will incur a risk of perishing miserably among the shoals of Democracy." ”

“ To be a member of the Federal Parliament, in virtue of high office of Governor.
The Federal Representatives.— (1) Each colony to appoint three. (2) To be elected by ballot by the members of both Houses of Parliament from the members of the Upper House or the Ministry. (3) Term, three years, or during good behavior. Having a seat in their respective Colonial Parliaments they will be in touch with the wants of their Separate colonies. It has been proved in America that a better class of men as Representatives are to be found in the Senate, than in the House elected by the people. ”

“ Then if we add interest of money and expenditure saved on residences and furnishing, etc., and all the extras that our Colonial Governors would not want, we think the entire cost of the Federal Empire will be very little more than our present form of Government. ”

“ Total area, 3,075,238 square miles; total population, 3,551,755. The Victorian Statist (Hayter) has just given the total population as 3,678,046, or an increase for the year of 126,295, of which Victoria claims 54,000 and New South Wales 42,000. These figures are very suggestive in view of federation. Allowing for births, the net gain of immigration is only 59,958 persons, or only about 1,000 persons per week for the seven colonies. ”