THE ANNEXATION CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1017, 5 December 1883, Page 2

THE ANNEXATION CONFERENCE.

[KEUTEE’S TELEGRAMS. —COPYRIGHT.] Sydney, Yesterday. In the Conference this morning a long discussion took place on the subject of annexation, including Mr Whitaker’s amendments to the report of the Committee. In the course of the debate Mr Whitaker made an exhaustive speech in support of his motion. Mr Dailey, Attorney-General of New South Wales, submitted a proposition for the constitution of a Federal Council. Its functions, as defined, would be to deal with the following questions; —Naturalisation of aliens, parents, quarantine, enforcement of criminal process, extradition, copyright, marriage, divorce, prevention of the influx of criminals, weights and measures, status of companies, and the examinations of marine disasters. He proposed that the Council consist of two members from each colony enjoying responsible Government, and one member from Crown colonies. The yearly meeting to be held at a time and place to be determined by a Governor empowered by the Queen ; three colonies to be able to “summon special meeting of the Council.

In addition to the functions of the Federal Council, as previously telegraphed, Mr Dailey’s proposition provides for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments in matters affecting Australasia and thej Pacific, At the sitting of the Conference this afternoon a series of resolutions on the question of annexation, with various amendments thereto, was discussed and finally adopted unanimously, with no substantial change from the report of the subcommittee, except that an additional clause was interpolated after the first, as follows : —“ The Convention refrain from suggesting the manner of carrying out the foregoing, in the confident belief that the Imperial Government will promptly and wisely take the most efficient steps to secure the safety and contentment of this distant portion of the Empire.” With the fifth clause of the series of resolutions as agieed to (the fourth as telegraphed yesterday) is embodied Mr Whitaker’s amendment, providing for the guarantee of a share of the cost of annexation by a Permanent Appropriation Act. It is confidently expected that the labors of the Convention will be attended with unqualified success. It is probable that the session will close on Friday next. The Committee appointed has prepared a draft of an Imperial Bill defining the constitution and functions of the proposed Federal Council, as reported in the previous telegrams. It is understood that complete unanimity prevails thereon among delegates to the Convention.