PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1345, 24 January 1912, Page 5

PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

SAVINGS BANK PROPOSALS. By Teleeraoli—Press A6soclatlon-Oopyrlftbl (Rec. January 23, 8.10 p.m.) Melbourne, January 23. Tho Premiers discussed a letter from Mr.| A. Fisher, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, regarding the savings .bank proposals, regretting the decision cf the Conference and stating that the proposals remained open and hoping that they might be accepted. After some warm criticism most of the Premiers considering that it amounted to. a decision not to listen to the States, whilo Mr. M'Gowen, Premier of New South Wales, was of opinion that Mr. Fisher was only sparring for time, the following resolution was carried: "The Conference expressed its readiness to accept Mr. Fisher's proposals subject to a satisfactory arrangement being reached, giving the States a. reasonable share in the management of tho Commonwealth Bank." Victoria and Queensland yoted against the resolution. ; ■ NATIONAL EXHIBITION. (Rec. January 23, 8.40 p.m.) Melbourne, January 23. At tho Premiers' Conference a'motion was carried in favour of a National Exhibition. MR. HOLMAN'S PROPOSALS. (Rec. January 23, 9.35 p.m.) . Melbourne, January 23. The Premiers exhaustively discussed Mr. Holman's proposal for vesting wider powers in the Commonwealth which were adopted in a somewhat modified form after tho insertion of a clause giving the Commonwealth power to deal with unfair competition between States.

Mr. Holman said he was opposed to handing over domestic commerce und favoured giving power to deal with tho new protection, industrial arbitration, and the nationalisation or control of interState monopolies. LABOUR V. LIBERALS.. (Rec. January 24, 0.25 a.m.)' Melbourne, January 23. The divisions on Mr. Holnian's proposals almost invariably saw tho New South Wales and West Australian Premiers, representing Labour, against Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania, representing the Liberals. The tendency of the conference was to restrict the surrender of powers to deal with inter-State phases of industrial conflicts; to deny the Commonwealth power to fix prices in tariff-protected industries, and to make tho High Court the limit of action in determining what are to be the monopolies over .which tho Commonwealth .should assume control.

Tho proposals' were amended in a form unacceptable to New South' Wales and West Australia, and it is considered improbable that they will proceed further with them in their own Parliaments. THE LATEST PHASE. The Melbourne "Argus," of a recent date, says: "The latest phase of tho Federal Havings bank proposal has put an entirely different complexion on the mutter. Reflection as to. whether that thrifty section of the community which patronises the State Savings Banks is going to transfer its deposits from institutions which it knows to be soundly mnnnged to one whose policy does not banish all doubt as to its future is probably responsible for Mr. Fisher's latest idea. If the proposition i= to bo regarded as an evidence of magnanimity on the part of the Federal Government towards the 'States it is amusing .because, in case of active competition, it is ut least probable that the State institutions would obtain more than the 75 per cent of the genuine new biisiiies*. The magnanimity of the business-sharing p:u-t of tho proposal is, however, somewhat depreciated by the other conditions proposed, which would give the Commonwealth a controlling interest, while the States would be expected to become guarantors against losfcs to the extent to which they would share profits. Under this arrangement the States would, if recent political statements go for nnything, hand their Savings Hank business over to a management which proposed to work on linos tending towards Instability, while they would become liable for losses. This side o-f the question is no doubt one that will appeal to the States, which can now show a profit from their savings bunks."