IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 496, 7 August 1902, Page 2

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

NUMEROUS SUBJECTS DEALT WITH. UNFLEDGED RE 0 1 cROCIT X. By Telegraph —Press Association—Copyright London, Aug. G. ■ The sittings of the Imperial Conference have been resumed. Besides tho colonial representatives, Mr Chamberlain, Mr Brodrick, Lord Stanley, Mr Arnold Foster, the Admiralty Director.--, of Contracts, and the Secretary of the Lost Office were present. Thu question oi' remounts, army and navy contracts, reduction of postal rates throughout the Empire on newspapers and periodicals, and tho metric system were uiscussed. The only reciprocity likely to be granted to the colonies in return for preferential advantages will be increased subsidies to British mail trading lines, where such will not interfere with Great Britain’s relations with foreign countries. Consideration of tho suggested establishment of an Imperial Court of Appeal, combining the two existing tribunals, was postponed indefinitely, owing to Canada’s objection. Australia alone cordially appt-oved oi tho change. Sir A. Hime’s proposal that naturalisation of aliens by one colony should suffice for the Empire was rejected. Sir Edmund Barton’s motion favoring unification and wider protection of patents was carried.

Reciprocity between professional men in the Orange and Transvaal Colonies and tho rest of the Empire was approved.

With regard to contracts, evidence was produced showing that the Colonios were already specially considered.

It is understood that without an exchange of definite pledges the Imperial Government will bear in mind Colonial interests, and tho Colonics will similarly remember the claims of English products.