700 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
an indefinite period confined to pastoral pursuits. But the first divi- 
sion divides itself into two distinct parts, as in the case of the United 
States — the tropical and the temperate — in which the habits and occu- 
pations of the people and the conditions of life must differentiate very 
widely. Now, the question which naturally arises is — In view of 
these various conditions, if the authorities who originally divided these 
colonies had had some prophetic vision regarding the federal neces- 
sities of the future, would they have decided to cut up this continent 
into such large territories, made up relatively of such incongruous 
parts, without having made provision for their reconstruction upon 
more scientific lines, as a congeries of States, having in each an area 
which in size was somewhat in proportion to the reasonable conditions 
of a self-governing province, and in which the inhabitants were bound 
together by similar local sympathies and mutual interests. 
Now, although all federations are constructed in view of existing 
•conditions, still it may be just as well to examine what under an 
ideal set of circumstances would form the most lasting elements of a 
federal community. We are not now dealing with a number of 
ancient States differing in race, in language, and in national affinities; 
we are dealing with a population of a practically homogeneous 
character; and while the various colonies, even in their short existence, 
may have differentiated slightly in their habits and in the character 
of their industrial life, there is still no alien element preventing the 
citizen of one colony from changing his abode and casting in his lot 
with the citizens of another colony. We are therefore in a position 
to discuss all such matters in a liberal spirit, and to retrace our steps 
if such action is necessary to secure the solidity and the durability 
of our future national Government. We may construct on paper 
the most magnificent and ideal Constitution ; we may give to that 
Central Government powers which will enable it theoretically to 
dominate our ports and to hold our military organisation in its bands; 
but all this would be quite unavailing if the various parts which 
form the federation are so unscientific in their relative proportions that 
one or two may dominate the rest, so that disintegration instead of 
union may meet us face to face in the hour of national danger. 
To return, then, to the ideal Federation. It should, if possible, be 
•composed of States in which each is possessed of an area limited to the 
necessities of autonomous government, and in which the natural 
conditions with regard to climate and rainfall are sufficiently similar 
to determine a compact territory united by local bonds of common 
interest. 
With the exception of Victoria and Tasmania, none of the other 
colonies realise these conditions. New South Wales has its coastal 
territory and its far interior, with absolutely dissimilar interests and 
with enormous cost of government. Queensland. South Australia, 
and West Australia are each composed of the three distinct parts to 
winch I have already referred — temperate, tropical, and interior— all 
with divergent and in many respects utterly incompatible interests. 
Now, by the terms of the Federal Convention Bill, under sections 
l and 5, Chapter VI., it is clearly laid down that the boundaries of no 
State shall be altered, and that no new territories shall be cut out of 
the existing States without the consent of their respective Parliaments. 
