salvation. The mandate has been bestowed upon us definitely. The terms of it have not yet been approved by the Council of Five, but that is a formal matter, and I am authorized to say that the terms are as I have stated."

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"The next point to be dealt with is that which we call the White Australia' policy (Hear, hear). Members who have travelled in the East and in Europe will be able to understand with what difficulty this world gathering of men, representing both coloured and partly coloured peoples, was able to appreciate this ideal of 5,000,000 people who had dared to say over a great Continent that this was not only theirs, but none should enter in except such as they chose. (Hear, hear). Therefore, perhaps, the greatest thing we have achieved in such circumstances, in such an assembly, was the principle of a white Australia.' (Hear, hear). Here I speak for most, if not all, of the people of Australia. (Cheers). There are some at the two extremes of the poles of political opinion who do not hold these views, but thank God they are few in numbers, and, I hope, of limited influence. (Hear, hear). This is the foundation of all that Australia has fought for. This is the only part of the Empire or of the world in which there is so little admixture of races. In England and France you may hear men in adjoining counties or provinces speak different dialects, and in the case of France, unable to understand each other, but in no part of Australia can you distinguish one Australian from another by his speech. We are more British than Britain, and we hold firmly to this great principle of a white Australia' because we know what we know, and because we have liberty and we believe in our race and in ourselves, and in our capacity to achieve our great destiny. (Cheers). Our destiny is to hold this great Continent in trust for those who will come after us, and we must stand to those who have stood by us in the great battle for freedom. You can do what you please with it, but we have achieved this victory, and brought this principle out of the Conferences. (Cheers). There are many difficulties. The first amendment of the Japanese delegation proposed that, equality of the nations being a basic principle of the League of Nations, no distinctions should be made in law or fact because of race or nationality. I am entitled to tell you something of the story of this struggle for a White Australia.' This amendment was put forward in a dozen different ways, and modified again and again. Pressure was brought in this direction and that. It was so modified that at last it applied only to alien nationals in this country. We were asked to extend to them only those rights. I said then, speaking for Australia, that I would not consent to it, no matter what they put there." (Cheers).

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The Treaties were approved almost unanimously by both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament. An Act was passed ratifying an Agreement with Great Britain and New Zealand to share in the mandate over the rock phosphate island of Nauru in the South Pacific Ocean, a few miles south of the Equator.

RECENT AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

The following are the latest Amendments of the Constitution of the United States ::-

ARTICLE XVII.

ELECTION OF SENATORS.

Providing for the direct choice of United States Senators by the people, was declared in force May 31st, 1913.

1. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislatures.

2. When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, that the Legislature of any State may empower the Executive thereof to make temporary appointment until the people fill the vacancies by election as the Legislature may direct.

3. This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

ARTICLE XVIII.

LIQUOR PROHIBITION AMENDMENT.

1ST AUGUST 1917.

The Prohibition Amendment resolution passed by Congress reads :

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Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein) that the following Amendment to the Constitution be, and hereby is, proposed to the States, to become valid as a part of the Constitution when ratified by the Legislatures of the several States as provided by the Constitution :

"Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating

liquors within, the importation thereof into or the exportation thereof from, the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

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Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the Legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by Congress."

The resolution was passed by the Senate, 65 to 20, on August 1, 1917, and by the House, 282 to 128, on December 17, 1917. Mississippi was the first State to ratify the Amendment, its Legislature acting on January 8, 1918.

Up to January 16, 1919, the Legislatures of thirty-six Statesthe required three-fourths-had ratified the Prohibition Constitutional Amendment, Nebraska being the thirty-six, on the date Ratification was completed January 15, 1919, by the Legislatures of five States-Iowa, Colorado, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Utah-making a total of twelve in two days.

The Amendment, under its provisions, became effective one year after the date of its final ratification. Additional legislation by Congress is necessary to make it operative, and ground work for this already has been laid. This legislation will prescribe penalties for violations of the Amendment and determine how and by what agencies the law shall be enforced.

On 10th October 1919, Congress passed the Prohibition Enforcement Bill. President Wilson's signature only is required to complete it. Wide authority is given to the States to suppress the liquor traffic.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

In the House of Representatives on 1st October 1919, the Prime Minister, Mr. W. M. HUGHES re-introduced in a modified form, the scheme of constitutional amendments, contained in his Bill of 15th July 1915, supra, page 618.

The following tabulated statement shows in one column the Constitution as it stands at present and the parallel column the effect of the proposed alterations :

an absolute majority of its members, referred to the High Court, for inquiry and report by a Justice thereof the question whether the industry or business is the subject of a monopoly, and where, after the report of the Justice has been received, each House of the Parliament has, in one session, by majority of its members, declared that the industry or business is the subject of a monopoly.

This section shall not apply to any industry or business conducted or carried on by the Government of a State or any public authority constituted under a State."

The alterations made by this Act shall remain in force

(a) until the expiration of three years from the assent of the Governor-General thereto; or

(b) until a convention constituted by the Commonwealth makes recommendations for the alteration of the Constitution and the people endorse those recommendations, whichever first happens, and shall then cease to have effect. Provided that if no such convention is constituted by the Commonwealth before the thirtyfirst day of December, one thousand nine hundred and twenty, the alterations made by this Act shall cease to have effect on the said thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and twenty.

"No law passed by the Parliament by virtue of the powers conferred by this Act shall continue to have any force or effect, by virtue of this Act, after the alterations made by this Act have ceased to have effect."

The arguments advanced in favour of and objections raised against the proposed amendment of the commerce power are stated, supra, page 305.

The case for and against the proposed amendment relating to corporations are stated, supra, page 500.

The case for and against the proposed amendments relating to the industrial power is stated supra, page 588.

The proposed amendment relating to trusts and combines is discussed, supra, page 606.

The proposed amendment relating to monopolies is referred to supra, page 613.

The whole of the proposed alterations were carried in the House of Representatives and the Senate and were ordered to be submitted to the people by referendum in December 1919.