THE INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1285, 29 July 1870, Page 3

THE INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE.

» " The following is the report agreed to by the various delegates who attended the above conference:— " This conference was convened at the instance of the Q-overnment of Tasmania, primarily in order to consider the desirability of the establishment of a customs union for the Australasian colonies, and the removal of all restrictions upon intercolonial trade. The invitation was responded to by the colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. "The most important questions considered by the conference were a free ' interchange of the natural productions and manufactures of the respective j colonies, a uniform tariff with assimilated excise regulations, a customs union, and a distribution of the revenue derived therefrom upon the basis of population. The desirableness of such arrangements was admitted, and the more important items subject fed fixed duties were considered, and npght have been agreed to ; but upon approaching the list of articles involving free trade on the one hand, and discriminating duties on the other, various difficulties presented themselves, and it was found impracticable to effect such a compromise as would secure the desired result. These difficulties precluded New South Wales from accepting the principle upon which the proposal of Victoria was based; and the representatives of the latter colony, considering the prospective advantages thereby diminished, subsequently proposed new conditions for South Australia and Tasmania, to which those colonies were unable to accede. "But although, for the reasons stated, the conference has not arrived at any definite conclusion on the subject, the consideration of the question has led to a deeper conviction of its importance ; whilst the resolution to memorialise Her Majesty's Government to remove the prohibitions against intercolonial free trade interposed by Imperial enactment will, if successful, materially facilitate further action. "That a plan for harmonising the diverse tariffs of the Australasian colonies, so as to secure the assent of various political parties, should be a work not easy of attainment, is only what might have been expected ; but the conference, impressed with the excellence of the object, has faith in its ultimate and not far distant success. " The conference, however, has been in perfect accord upon several other questions of considerable importance. It has been decided to recommend the adoption by the various Governments represented of a uniform sea-going intercolonial postage rate of 3d., and also to reduce the charges upon telegraphic messages. It is believed that these arrangements will be found beneficial to trade, and acceptable to the public generally. '•The evils that have arisen from the facility with which absconding debtors and other offenders have been enabled to evade justice through the absence of a uniform .intercolonial law on the

t subject, formed part of the delibera 9 tions of the conference, and i< 1 was resolved that the Government* ■ of the various colonies should be: urged to introduce bills of similar import at the ) earliest practicable opportunity. ) "The question of immigration was - considered, and an opinion was recorded ) that it would be desirable in future to ■ adopt a plan common to the several • colonies, so as to secure to each the full - benefit to which it would be entitled oh ; account of the expenditure of public i money for this object! The attention of i the several Governments will be invited to the question, with a view to the adoption of corresponding regulations^ " Despatches from the Imperial Government having intimated the intended withdrawal of the troops now stationed in Australia, the conference took into consideration the course to be pursued under the altered circumstances in which the colonies are about to be placed, and it was decided to press upon the attention of Her Majesty's Government the paramount duty of their making adequate navalprovision for the protection of British and Australian commerce in these waters especially in times of war." We subjoin the resolutions arrived at by the conference under their several heads: — POSTAL BATES. That the sea postage on all letters between the various colonies be at the uniform rate of 3d for the half ounce; and by overland mail, 2d between Victoria and South Australia, and 3dbetween South Australia and New South Wales. TELEGRAPHIC BATES The first proposal was that for all intercolonial telegraphic messages there be a uniform charge on the part of each colony of Is for 10 words, and Id for each additional word. This was agreed to by the representatives of South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria (exclusive of cable charges between Tasmania and Victoria), but the representatives of New South Wales, while declining to assent to the proposal for an intercolonial uniform telegraphic rate of Is for each message of 10 words (their lines being now nearly 6,000 miles in length, the greater portion of which have been erected to connect them with the neighboringcolonies), were willing to come to the following special arrangement: — " That the charge for messages to and from New South Wales and Victoria should be as follows :— Three shillings for 10 words, and 3d for every extra word from and to all stations in New South Wales and Victoria, except Deniliquin, Albury, Echuca, and Belvoir, for which the charge is to be 2s ; in the former, tfew South Wales to receive 2s, and Victoria Is, and in the latter to be equally divided. . ' "In the case of South Australia the charge to be 5% the division to be settled hereafter, when the nature of the existing agrrgamanf .flliall Tuitm — hflrtn fultiiprconsidered ; and should any difference of opinion then arise between the two colonies, the question shall be left to the arbitration of some disinterested party or parties, to be mutually agreed upon.** WITHDRAWAL OF IMPERIAL TROOPS. " That the despatches received from her Majesty's Government on the subject of military protection in Australia show that the Imperial troops can only be permitted to remain in the colonies upon terms and conditions which cannot be accepted, and lead to the conclusion that the Imperial troops will be speedily withdrawn, thus throwing the colonies entirely upon their own resources for their internal defence. " That, in theae circumstances, it is the opinion of. this conference that her Majesty's Imperial Government should undertake to provide for the defence and protection of the coast line of Australia, and of British commerce in its various ports, and that this conference do address an humble memorial to her Majesty accordingly." It was agreed that Messrs Wilson and Hart should prepare the memorial. DETERIORATED SILVER COINAGE. " That an application be made to the Imperial authorities to permit the minting of silver coins in the colonies of New South Wales and Victoria ; or, that the Imperial Government shall be requested to cause to be supplied periodically to the mint authorities in i these colonies new silver coins to ! exchange in the colonies for those which may from time to time become worn and defaced." i The representatives of New South Wales and Victoria undertook to make [ the necessary application to the Imperial Government in the matter. : : '..'■''' "' ABSCONDING DEBTOBS, &C. " That, in the opinion of this conference, it is highly important to secure early legislation in order to prevent the defeat of justice in the ease of offenders escaping from one colony to another, and that the Governments of the Australasian colonies be invited to take the subject into immediate consideration, with a view to the attainment of that object by the adoption of a uniform law." CALLING OF THE MAIL STEAMEB AT KANGAROO ISLAND. "That, in the opinion of this conference, it is only equitable that the South Australian mails, by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steamers, should be conveyed by them direct to the port pf Kangaroo Island, I without any additional cost to the | colonies." Mr Hart, on the part of South Australia, agreed to provide for the safety and quick despatch of the mail i steamers. ' ■ | TELEaEAEHIC AND STEAM COMMUNICATION •-,■ ' .WITH ENGLAND. ■'.■/.■■ ' On behalf of South Australia it was represented that that Government had | entered into a contract to construct a i direct line of telegraph from Fort Augusta to join the submarine cable from Europe via Java, which the British and Australian Telegraph Company had contracted to land at Fort Darwin The conference decided—

" That ihis conference deems i b inexpedient to consider, at the presen i time, the question of telegraphic cou I nexion between these colonies and th< i G-ulf of Carpentaria, as the two colonie of Queensland and South Australia i propose carrying out the work." [ ITEW OCEAN POSTAL BCHEME3. i Mr Cowper brought under considera- . tion the various proposals for establishing steam communication^ between ' England . :and the- Australasian colonies via Galle i San Francisco, the Cape of Good Hope, * and Torres Straits. After discussion it was agreed by the members of the conference that it would be to the advantage of the colonies interested in the question to await the further development of these and of other schemes which it is probable the competing companies may originate. INTERCHANGE OP COLONIAL MANtTFACTUBES. „ "That, in the opinion of this conference, the Australasian colonies ought to be enabled to enter into arrangements- with each other which would allow of the reciprocal admission of their' respective products and manufactures duty free on such terms as might mutually be agreed upon, and that so much of the acts of the Imperial Parliament as prohibits such engagementsought to be repealed." A FIJI PBOTECTOBATE. " This conference being of opinion that the. geographical position of the Fiji Islands renders their protection of the very highest consideration as regards Australia, and both British and Australian commerce, "Itesolves — That it is of the utmost importance to British interests that these islands should not form part of or be under the guardianship of any other country than Great Britain, and that- a respectful address to this effect be prepared for transmission to the Imperial authorities." DISTRESSED BRITISH COLONISTS ANC COLONIAL SEAMEN. Mr Samuel adverted to the question of relief being rendered to distressed British colonists and colonial seamen, but the conference was of opinion that each colony should deal with the matter as it might seem fit. : WITHDRAWAL OF IMPERIAL TBOOPS. •' Sir James M'Culloch proposed :•— " That this conference do agree to the following memorandum, and that a copy thereof be laid by the representatives of each colony before their respective Governments, in order that the subject to which it relates may be brought under the notice of Her Majesty's Government : — " That it appears from Her Majesty's Secretary of State's despatches, on the subject of military protection in Australia, the terms upon which Imperial troops can be permitted to remain in the colonies cannot be satisfactorily adjusted as between Her Majesty's Government and the colonial^governments, and that it is the to withdraw the troops at a very early date, by which withdrawal the local Governments will be thrown entirely on their own resources for providing means for their defence against any invading power. " That in these circumstances it is desirable to press upon the attention of Her Majesty's Government the duty of providing at all times, and especially in time of war, for the naval defence and protection of the coast line of Australia and the extensive British commerce in its waters, and to express the confidence with which the colonial Governments believe this obligation will be recognised and admitted by the Imperial Government." Carried. : CENTAL STSTXK OF WEIGHTS. The attention of the conference having been called to the importance of adopting the cental system of weights; it was deemed inexpedient to recommend any special legislation upon the matter, but the representatives of the respective Governments would be prepared to encourage the; introduction of the system in their colonies severally. UNIFORMITY OF STATISTICS. ■ The subject of uniformity of statistics was brought under consideration, and the conference determined that it was desirable for the registrars-general, or other statistical officers of the Australasian colonies, to communicate with each other through their respective Governments, with a view to the adoption of a uniform system. IMMIGRATION TO THE AUSTRALASIAN ,"' .) \ ', /COLONIES; . "It is expedient that, in' the conduct of -immigration— to—^he Australasian colonies, a combined system alumld bocarried out as speedily as possible. The representatives it this conference, therefore, undertake to bring the subject under the consideration of their respective Governments without delay, with the view of regulations being determined upon and provision made therefor." _________