A letter from Sydney, November 29, 1900, announced: "The question of the establishment of an old age pension system, similar to that now in successful operation in New Zealand [see (in this volume) NEW ZEALAND: A. D. 1899], has been agitating New South Wales for several months, and to-day the bill for that purpose became a law. There has been a desire on the part of some members of the Legislature to hold over the bill until the convening of the Federal Parliament, in the hope that the measure would become universal throughout the continent, but the majority, including the Premier, wished the bill to be pushed through without loss of time. There is no opposition worth mentioning. … At a mass meeting in favor of the bill representatives of every political party, of every Church and of every profession and trade in the community were present. {33} The sentiment of the colony has never been more unanimous. … The estimated cost of the scheme is something like £250,000 or £300,000 a year, but this does not take into consideration the amount which will be saved by doing away with the charitable institutions now draining the pockets alike of the state and of the individual. Private contributions alone amount to £600,000 a year; all this will be saved, together with a part of the Government's annual expenditure—about £400,000—for public institutions. Not all pauper institutions can be abolished, for many of the aged and friendless poor are ailing or slightly feeble minded, and will continue to need medical attention." AUSTRALIA: A. D. 1900 (March). New Zealand looking toward federation with the Australian Commonwealth. See (in this volume) NEW ZEALAND: A. D. 1900 (MARCH). AUSTRALIA: West Australia: A. D. 1900 (August). Vote to join the Commonwealth. The question of union with the other colonies in the Commonwealth, from which the West Australians had previously held aloof, was submitted to them in August (women voting for the first time), and decided affirmatively by 44,704 against 19,691. Adding the West Australian totals to the aggregate vote at the decisive referendum in each of the other federating colonies, the following is the reported result: For federation. 422,647 Against federation. 161,024 Majority. 261,623 AUSTRALIA: A. D. 1900 (September-December). The Queen's Proclamation of the Australian Commonwealth. Contemplated visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to open the first session of the Federal Parliament. Appointment of Lord Hopetoun to be Governor-General. The first Federal Cabinet. On the 17th of September the following proclamation of the Australian Commonwealth was issued by the Queen: