But there is a second step, which may be taken
at once. Four of the seven Australasian Colonies,—Victoria, Queens-
land, Tasmania, and Western Australia,—have now, by unani- mous, or all but unanimous, votes of their Parliaments, pro- nounced in favour of a Confederation, and asked the Imperial Government for an Enabling Act. It is to be hoped, even against hope, that the Government will endeavour to pass it in the few days that remain of the Session. There would be no real opposition to such a measure, and it would hardly be just or worthy to delay the foundation of the Australasian Dominion for a whole year because of our own difficulties with the House of Lords. This is the safest second step towards cementing that union with our Colonies for which all parties alike express their desire.
