MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY (for Mr. PARNELL)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether any intimation has been made to him, by the Leaders of the Opposition, of their disposition in regard to the introduction of an enabling Bill on the subject of Australasian Confederation?
MR. GLADSTONEThe House may remember what I stated on this subject the other evening. Shortly after that statement was made, I was given to understand that Gentlemen opposite would not be able to give a kindly support to an enabling Bill, with which alone it could pass into law this Session. The Government have, therefore, dropped the idea of the introduction of such a measure.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will consent to introduce a Bill for the purpose of promoting a Confederation of the Australian Colonies in the Autumn Session; and, if not, if he would explain the reason?
MR. GLADSTONEIt appears to me that it would be premature to determine anything at this moment as to any particular subject to be introduced during the Autumn Session over and above the Bill relating to the Franchise. We should be very glad to act upon the subject of an enabling Bill for the Confederation of the Australian Colonies at the present time, but as that cannot be done the matter must stand over necessarily for a certain time; but should it present features of urgency in the Autumn Ses- 441 sion, we should be willing to consider it I in the spirit in which we considered it last week. But in our view at present the consideration of any other subject but the Franchise Bill would be out of place in the autumn.