voting at the joint sitting, vote for it. If less than that proportion vote for it, it will be rejected. In accordance with this arrangement, it is provided that the number of senators shall always be as nearly as possible half the number of representatives.
It had often been proclaimed by the political wiseacres that the protective system was the lion in the path of federation, for that no colony would consent to give up the Customs duties levied upon the goods of other colonies. There appeared, however, before the Convention met, a universal consensus of opinion amongst the people, guided still by the Australian Natives, that a federation must provide for the inter-colonial free-trade. And this point was conceded without dispute; the only question raised being as to how the colonies were to be compensated in their revenues for the loss of duties thus abolished. It was provided that within two years of the establishment of the Commonwealth a uniform Customs and Excise tariff shall be enacted; and that then trade between the colonies shall be absolutely free.
There was considerable difficulty over the question of the control of the rivers; for on this matter New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia stood in a position of antagonism. The principal river system of Australia has its rise in New South Wales; and the Murrumbidgee joins the Murray, which is the northern boundary of Victoria, and which flows, in the latter part of its course, through South Australia. The last-named colony wished to provide that the navigability of the rivers should be the first consideration in the federation, fearing that New South Wales might in the future adopt some extensive system of irrigation, which would deprive the rivers of a considerable portion of their waters, and interfere with the navigation of the Murray. After a long discussion
