THE CONVENTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 4, 3 December 1883, Page 3

THE CONVENTION

Important Resolutions for Adoption-' (by electric telegraph.— copyright.) . .(reutee's telegrams) ■'•"-'••■ Sydney, This Day. , The following is the report of the sub committee of Premiers as amended by the Convention on Saturday and which will probably be adopted today. ; lsJ.-r-That m the opinion of the Convention, the further acquisition of a dominion by any foreign power on any -islands m the Western Pacific would be highly detrimental to the future safety and prosperity of the British dependencies m Australasia, apd .injurious to the interests of the "whole British Empire. '•-...-. \ . 2nd.^Having l-egard to the geographical position of New r Guinea and the rapid extension of British tiade and enterprise m Torres Straits, it is a certainty that New Guinea will shortly be, inhabited by many adventurous ; Brjjiish subjects and others, and the l inadequacy of existing laws regulating Itheir.: relations with the natives, the Convention while recognising the responsibility of extending the boundaries of the British Empire, is empatically of opinion that such steps should betaken immediately, so as most conveniently and effectually to secure incorporation with the British Empire of so much Of New Guinea as is not claimed by Holland. 3rd.— Although the understanding arrived ab m 1878 between Great"Britain and France,rebognising the independence of the New Hebrides precludes the Convention from' marking any recommendation respecting those islands, the Convention urges that it is extremely desirable that such understand--1 ing be embodied m a. definite permanent engagement m order.; to secure these ; islands against foreign domination ; the I 'Convention also trusts that Her Majesty**} Government, with this object * will secure the control of the New I Hebrides m the interests of Australia. 4th. — All the Governments reprei sented at the Convention undertake to , submit and recommend to their respective Parliaments measures such as may 'be necessary for defraying, in_proportion to population, such share of costs m carrying but the foregoing resolutions las Her Majesty's Government will require. \ sth.— The Convention protests m the strongest manner against the declared l intention of the French Government to ; transport a large number of relapsed criminals to the French possessions m ! the Pacific, and. urges Her Majesty's 'Government to employ every means to prevent the adoption of measures so disastrous to the interests of Australasia* ': 6th.— The Convention expresses, its hope that no penal settlement . ifor the reception of European criminals jwill contipue long to exist m the 'Pacific, ' and invites Her Majesty's jGovernpicnt. to make, to the French jGoverameht such' serious representaitionsias may be deemed expedient. 7th. — That these resolutions be communicated to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for submission to Her (Majesty's royal .consideration of such action as may be -thought, proper, with a view to effect' the earnest desire of Her loyal subjects m Australasia. j cMv Griffith, the Premier of Queenslandj has tabled a series of resolutions on the sabjecfc of instituting ;t Federal Council. /-'.'*" , It has transpired that at Saturday's meeting of the. Conference, Messrs Stuart and Foryice spoke m favour of limited action with regard to a Federal Council, wilh a view to. establish the necessary machinery, : It is probable that a committee will be appointed to draft the final resolutions. j Alt, the delegates made an excursion ! tjo CJqntarf, down the harbor, on Saturday, at the invitation of the Chamber of Commerce, and Mr Service, m a speech on the occasion, said the Convention was making satisfactory progress.