IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 769, 18 March 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

REPRESENTATION OF AUSTRALIAN STATES. ACTION BY AGENTS-GENERAL. By ToleirniDn—Press Association—Oooyrlitlit. (Hec. March 17, 9.20 p.m.) London, March 17.' The Australian Agents-General have unanimously resolved to suggest to their Premiers that their States should advance a' claim for representation at the Imperial Conference with a view to the recognition of their constitutional rights by the admission of the State Premiers or their nominees to the 1911 Conference, so that the States may be represented in the discussion 1 of such questions as the appointment- of State Governors, immigration, and other matters upon which the Commonwealth representative, had no right to speak for the States. Tho general opinion is that the present time is favourable for again advancing the claim with a view to harmonious relations between the States and the Commonwealth Government.

THE CONFERENCE OF 1911. The holding of an Imperial Conference in 1911 will bo in accord with a resolution passed by the Imperial Conference of 1907 in favour of four yearly Conferences. This resolution was as follows :—

"That it will be to the advantage of tho Empire if a Conference, to be called tho Imperial ■ Conference, is , held every fout years, at which questions of common interest may be discussed and considered as between H.M.'s Government and his Governments of tho self-governing .Dominions beyond 'the sons. The . Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will be ex officio president, and the Prime Ministers of the self-governing Dominions ex officio members, of the Conference. The Secretary of Stale for the Colonies i will be an ex officio member of tho Conference, and will take the chair in the absence of the president. He will arrange for .such Imperial Conferences after communication with the Primo Ministers of the respective Dominions. Snch other Ministers as i the respective Governments may appoint will also be members of the Conference—it being understood that, except by special permission of the Conference, each discussion will be conducted by not more than.two representatives from each Government, and that each Government will have only one vote." :