THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2059, 20 April 1907, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

CABLES.

(Press Assn.—By Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, April 18. . The Daily Telegraph says if the Colonial Conference is reconstituted on Mr. Deakin’s lines the Colonial Office’s nose will probably be put out of joint. It adds that Australia and New Zealand, even at some risk, support a vigorous forward movement. Cape Colony and Natal also advocate ill a little less degree, the Conference moving forward into a definite recognised place in the scheme of the Empire. . ' Mr. Chamberlain telegraphed to Lord Elgin sincerely thanking the Premiers for their good wishes, and adding; “J am promised complete restoration to health, in which case I hope speedily to resume public work.” The message was hailed with the utmost joy at Birmingham, but Mr. Chamberlain is not expected to return to England before June.* There was a long and sharp struggle in the proceedings of the conference over Mr. Deakin’s proposal for an independent secretariat, instead of the Colonial Office. Kir. Deakin declared he did not want the Conference to possess executive powers, or even advisory power in a sense conveying any authority to interfere with local self-government, but he did want the Conference to be put on a permanent basis, more regularly organised, and with its constitution slightly altered so as to better express its real purpose and character. He suggested that besides the Prime Ministers, their Ministerial colleagues should be admitted to lend assistance. They required to have the status of tho self-governing colonies recognised, not only by the Presidency of tho r, :n„i. 11,. lint !,v cutting tha___ self-governing colonies off altogether from the Colonial Office.

Lord Elgin is fighting tooth and nail against the proposal to diminish the scope of the authority of his department.

SYDNEY, April 19. Both morning papers advocated the necessity for caution in reference to Air. Dea'kin’s proposal for a permanent Imperial* Council. Tlio Telegraph says Mr. Deakin is trying to lead into new paths where there aie many difficulties to meet with, and no prospect of any compensating advantage.

VRT.BI ASSOCIATION — COrYIUGHT. LONDON, April 18. In the House of Commons Mr. Asquith delivered the Budget, which showed that the realised balance last year was £5,399,000. which was applied to debt redemption. No change in direct taxaton is proposed. It is intended to abolish the intorcep-

tioir.of Imperial taxes for local authorities, and also intended to differentiate in-favor of earned incomes, if under £2OOO to tlio extent of 3d in the pound.

The Times states the Government is agreed regarding its policy in any future negotiations with .franco concerning the New Hebrides Convention. . Lord Elgin, in framing instructions for the guidance of the British officials, remembered Mr. Deakin’s suggestions in bis despatch of June 13th for the better protec l tion of indentured natives. Special consideration was given to sections of the Convention dealing with the engagement of women and children, hours of labor, wages and conditions of repatriation.

11l tile House of Commons Sir J. L. Walton introduced a Bill to ' establish a Court of Criminal Appeal, consisting of seven High Court Judges, who may allow or disallow appeals on depositions and written statements submitted to them. The Court is empowered if necessary to take fresh evidence, also to give prisoners in straitened circumstances the asssistance of counsel. . In the House of Commons the Patents Designs Bill was read a second time. The by-election for Belfast North to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Sir Daniel Dixon resulted': George Clark (Unionist) 0021, W. Walker (Labor) 4194. ST. PETERSBURG-, April 18. During the past week 150 workmen, besides many soldiers, were killed and wounded at Lodz as the result of a- conflict between the National Democrats and Socialists, the former favoring resumption of work, while the Socialists desire to resist until the employers surrender to the workmen’s terms.

MELBOURNE, April 19.

. The Postal Department states that it cannot see its way to accede to the British Postmaster’s request to sell British postal notes in Australia, owing to the very low amount of remuneraton offered. SYDNEY, April 19.' The Tailoresses’ Union decided to start a co-operative clothing factory. A meeting of the coal Lumpers’ Union to-day considers the action of the Board. A new association has been formed by the coal owners and stevedores, to join which the men will liavo to sign an agreement. The Whangaroa had a stormy trip and heavy gale. Seas swept the decks and carried away some sails. TROUBLE IN INDIA. THE SEDITION CASES. POLICE MOBBED, PRISONERS LIONISED, WHITES ATTACKED. CALCUTTA, April 18. The Chief Court of Lahore upheld the convict ion aud sentences recently imposed in connection with the newspaper Punjabi sedition case, but changed the imprisonment from rigorous to simple. The Chief Judge remarked that ho would have been pleased to reduce the sentence had the prisoners expressed contrition. While the prisoners were being conveyed to gaol a crowd stopped the carriage, pelted the police in charge with mud, and decorated the prisoners with garlands; then foiming a procession along the Mall, assaulted every European who was met until the police dispersed them. EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES. MEXICO, April 18. More earthquake shocks have occurred in Mexico. SANTIAGO, April 18.

The volcanoes Pungehue and Valdivia, in Chili, are in violent eruption. The lava caused great forest fires. People and cattle are fleeing.