AUSTRALIAN PREMIERS CONFERENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9435, 4 May 1909, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERS CONFERENCE.

ATTACKED BY A FEDERAL MINISTER. United Press Association.—By Elec trie Telegraph.—Copyright. Received May 4, 10.10 a. ,m. •Sydney, May 4. Mr Mahon, Minister of Home Affairs, speaking at Boulder, Westralia, described the recent Premiers’ Conference as an unoo£i?titationai’jexore’econce, adding that the Premiers were reaching out after Federalfunotions and if unchecked the Conference might finally grow into a chamber of revision .of Federal legislation. These remarks roused the State Premier, Mr Wade, who states that the Conference primarily deals with matters outside the purview the Commonwealth. Practically the only question of Federal . interest hitherto diesussed was the financial relations of the States and the Commonwealth. The Conference would still be held for matters of State concern; Mr Murray, Premier of Victoria, said that Mr Mahon’s remarks were mere rhetorical veneer. No attempt was made by the Conference to interfere with Federal matters, but Mr Mahon was evidently trying to paint a new bogey to frighten Australians. The Treasurer at Perth said that such pronouncements by a Minister of the Crown were unwarranted and calculated to strain the relations between the States and the Commonwealth. The Acting-Premier at Adelaide said that evidently the result of the Conference in carrying a resolution to uphold the financial stability of the States was unpalatable to Mr Mahon.