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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.
Its Constitution: Details of.
The Empire; Its Name.—To be known as "Australasia." Other names have been suggested, such as "United Australia," "Dominion of Australia," "Empire of Australasia," and "Australia and New Zealand." The writer, however, thinks the first, as above, is forceful, suitable, and comprehensive. The great German nation is satisfied with the single word "Germany," the Russians, the French, and the Americans (with their population of over 60,000,000), with the one-word name.
Its Territory and People.—The area of New South Wales is 309,175 square miles, and population, 1,042,919. Victoria, 87,884 square miles; population, 1,036,119. South Australia, 903,425 square miles; population, 317,446. Queensland, 668,224 square miles; population, 366,944. Western Australia, 975,920; population, 42,488. Tasmania, 26,375 square miles; population, 142,478. New Zealand, 104,235 square miles; population, 603,361. 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. 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. (3) To meet every two years or when emergency arises, but not to meet during the sitting of any Colonial Parliament (4) Any two colonies, through their Governors and representatives, may demand a meeting, after giving three months' notice, but an "extraordinary meeting" may be called at a week's notice, such notice to be given by the Governor-General and Premier. (5) No colony to secede from the Union without giving two years' notice of its intention at an ordinary meeting of Parliament. (6) Its functions: To deal only with national questions affecting the Empire, such as war and defence, army and navy, relations with the Pacific, influx of criminals and unsuitable persons, quarantine regulations, control of fisheries and waters, uniformity of railway gauges, intercolonial telegraph lines, patents and rights, carriage, tariffs, Customs revenue, uniformity of
