PRIME MINISTERS' REPORT

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 48, 20 November 1926, Page 9

PRIME MINISTERS' REPORT

ON INTER-IMPERIAL RELATIONS AND TREATY OBLIGATIONS

READY FOR PRESENTATION TO CONFERENCE

BETTER UNDERSTANDING ASSURED The Prime Ministers, at a lengthy sitting at the Foreign Office, agreed to their report on the allied questions of interImperial relations and treaty obligations and a resolution containing a declaration that will conduce to a better understanding. It is hoped to conclude the labours of conference on Tuesday, • .

By Telegraph.—Press

Association. —Copyright.

(Rec. November 19, 5.5 ■ London, November 18.

Dinner engagements—even in the Conference's fifth week they are legion —went by the board to-night, while the Premiers finally wrestled with two major allied questions, iuter-Imperial relations and treaty obligations, and it was not till 7.15 p.m., after sitting for three hours at the Foreign Office, that they had sorted out all the viewpoints and agreed to their report, which may be presented to the Conference tomorrow. Though previously the two subjects had been handled by separate committees, they have been merged into one report, with a resolution which it is understood will contain a broad general declaration which all the Dominions can feel gives them a little more elbow room and conduces to a better understanding.

■ The Migration Committee at 10.30 .a.tn. to-morrow will submit to the Conference a voluminous report, largely a review of the achievements and disappointments of the last three years. There are long chapters devoted to rural housing, rural credits, the absorption of ex-service men from Britain and India, land settlements, the extension of social insurance, but a resolution will be couched in general terms recognising the impossibility of any mass movement from Britain, and urging adherence to the existing policy, with an immediate investigation of the possibilities of its elaboration.

It is understood that the Premiers this afternoon will also discuss international aspects of migration. It is agreed that there should be a strong Empire attitude to ensure each Dominion keeping its own immigration in its own hands, no matter what attempts arc made at Geneva or elsewhere to create an international organisation.

The Imperial Communications Committee further examined Sir James Connolly in reference to his fast ship scheme.

There will be two plenary sessions to-morrow and one on Monday, when it is hoped to make a considerable clearance of subjects and ensure the conclusion of the labours on Tuesday. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES SETTLEMENT AND ' • AFFORESTATION London, November 18. The Forestry Sub-Committee’s report suggests the development of settlement schemes in connection with afforestation, and noted the recent effective Empire organisation. It welcomed the New Zealand and Australian Governments’ invitation to hold a third forestry conference in 1928, and recommended to the Government of the Empire active preparation for participation therein. _ The report referred to the constitution of an Empire Forestry Bureau to the Imperial Conference. Mr. Gepps’s appendix to the report (emphasised the importance of the continuous production of timber, and drew attention to the possibilities of settling forest workers on agricultural land, sufficient to occupy them when their

sylvicultural work had slackened., It further urges the classification of forest and agricultuial lands, together with the proper management of forests for continuous production and a proper distribution of planting, thinning, and selection by suitable men with reasonable equipment and holdings.

TAXATION OF STATE ENTERPRISES.

The Economic Sub-Committee dealing with uniform taxation of enterprises by foreign Governments, quoted the New Zealand and Australian delegates in making an announcement of their Governments’ accepted principle of taxation of Government trading enterprises existing by law, providing sufficient authoritv yvas given for the necessary assessments. The Commonwealth Government, however, was unable to bind the States. The Sub-Committee considered that a measure of inter-Im-perial agreement was warranted, especially when negotiating with foreign Governments with a view to concluding reciprocal agreements for mutual taxation of their'trading enterprises.

TAXATION OF NON-RESIDENT TRADERS.

Regarding the taxation of non-resi-dent traders the Economic Sub-Commit-tee reported that it was desirable to divide the manufacturing and merchanting profits, restricting the income tax charges in the country of sale to merchanting profit. The same committee, dealing with Mr. Bruce’s suggestion for surveys of Empire trade, stressed the advantages of these, and reviewed the existing publication on them. The committee urged that each survey should deal with one trade or group of allied trades as concisely as possible, systematically condensing the reports, and avoiding duplication of effort. This would probably necessitate the creation of a statistical conference.

REPORTS ADOPTED BY CONFERENCE

(Rec. November 20, 1.10 a.m.) London, November 18.

The Imperial Conference adopted committee reports dealing with forestry, taxation of State enterprises, proposed survey of Empire trade, taxation of non-resident traders. The Conference carried a resolution appreciating the valuable work of the Imperial shipping and Imperial economic committees. It was decided that the latter should continue on its present basis to complete a series of investigations on marketing Empire foodstuffs and inquiries for various Governments dealing with raw materials, preliminary surveys and Empire trade.

Mr. Bruce announced that the Commonwealth would welcome and in every way facilitate the Empire forestry conference in Australia in 1928.

The plenary session of conference tomorrow will deal with reports on -research, overseas settlements, workmen’s compensation and nationality.