THE ANNEXATION CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1019, 7 December 1883, Page 1

THE ANNEXATION CONFERENCE.

[REUTER’S TELEGRAMS. —COPYRIGHT.] Sydney, Yesterday. At the Convention to-day Mr Dibbs, Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, gave notice of motion requiring the various Governments to be pledged to submit to their several Legislatures the various resolutions that may be come to by the Convention. Sir George Des Voeux, Governor of Fiji, gave notice of motion having for its object the prevention of unrestricted purchases of land in New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. Mr Bray, Premier of South Australia, tabled a motion in favor of requesting the Imperial Government to introduce a Bill constituting an Australian Federal Council. Mr Giblin, Prem'er of Tasmania, gave notice of motion for the appointment of the Premiers of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and New Zealand as a Committee to carry out the objects of and to summon the Convention when necessary, Mr Service to be Chairman of the Committee. The remaining clauses of the Federation Bill were under discussion at the Convention this morning. General agreement exists among the delegates regarding the principles of the measure, which it is expected will be unanimously adopted to-morrow. [Received Dec. 7, 1 15 p.m.] Sydney, To-day. It has transpired that the Convention made several alterations in the draft Imperial Bill for the constitution of a Federal Council. The measure now consists of eleven clauses, and in addition to the points already telegraphed provides that the Governor of Tasmania shall have power to summon the Council to hold sessions at Hobart till otherwise decided. The presence of a majority will be necessary to constitute a quorum and the decision ofthe majority is to prevail. The Federal Council is to have authority over British ship fisheries beyond territorial limits, over deserters and over defences within or without territorial limits. The decisions of the Council are to be valid only for those colonies which agree to them. The power vested in the Governor of the colony where the Council sits is to assent to, disallow or reserve for Royal assent any measures passed, and any amounts payable by the colonies in the case of a difference are to be assessed by the Governor of Tasmania. The Act shall be invalid in any colony until the Legislature has adopted it, and is not to be operative until four colonies have passed it.