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SERIOUS OPPOSITION TO THE CON
STITUTION BILL.
DISSENSION IN THE NEW SOUTH
WALES CABINET.
(BT BUBUABUCE CABLE.)
SydKBT, April 14, I
A split in the Cabinet has arisen, mainly, it '
is bolieeed, through the Premier (air Henry
Parkes) insisting upon a Federation Bill being
brought before Farliamwib by t^e -Ministry.
A section of the Cabinet is averse to this, ai
tbey think that Sir Henry Parkes should
solely be responsible for the bill, as bein?the
author of the whole aoheroe. The dis
senting seolion bnlds that if the Govern
ment wero to introduce a bill, the liberty
6u oppose portions cf tbe Conslitction Biil
drafted by the Convention to which they
objected would be lost, and tbey are not
inclined to bind themselves hand and foot to
ril clauaea of the measure. Underlying all
this is tbe question cf tbe fisoal pulioy to be
adopted by the Federated Australia.
Sir Henry Parkes proposes to leave this
question to tbe firat Ftdasl Parlismwt, but
his dissenting oolleagues insist that it should,
be tbe first question approved of by tho people
of New South Wales. Sir Henry wishes to.
shelve local Iegii'abion and hurry bn federa
tion, but this desire is nob shared by
the whole Cabinet. The dissentients
assart tbat the great pressure of :
business which stands on tbe notice paper
to be dealt with next session, shall first of. all ;
be disposed of. 8o far nothing definite is ^
known as to the probability of dissolution, but ^
it is certain that there are grave differences of
opinion which may be temporarily patched up,
bnt which it is thought are certain ~to break .
out again shortly. Meanwhile oabs 'and mes
sengers are flying abont between the Govern
ment offioes, and Ministers are hurriedly con
ferring, and the political world is in a high
Blate of agitation. I
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