PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 31, 19 January 1912, Page 5

PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

THE AUSTRALIAN ANNUAL CONSULTATION.

STANDARD RAILWAY GAUGE.

Melbourne, January 18

The Premiers’ Conference decided to ask the Commonwealth to pay 3J per cent, on transferred properties. A long discussion ensued on the question of the standard railway gauge.-: : * ’ . • \v "

AN AMBITIOUS IMMIGRATION SCHEME.

STANDARDISING OF FOOD,

(Received 19, 8.50 a.m.) Melbourne, January 19

The Conference resolved in favour of the appointment of a committee of leading railway engineers to report on 'the question of a uniform gauge between the capital cities and the cost of conversion. New South .Wales and West Australia voted against the motion on the ground that the report was unlikely to satisfy in view of the differing claims of the various States and the Commonwealth. To bring nearer a solution of the question of securing uniformity of the assistance given to immigrants it was referred to the heads of the State Immigration Departments. It was further resolved to ask the Commonwealth Government to provide twentyfive thousand assisted passages for immigrants yearly, paying the cost ol transportation on a uniform basis, the States to select a place for the immigrants, with the right to supplement the number of assisted passengers allotted. The Conference appointed Dr Ashburton Thompson a Royal Commissioner to inquire and report on the standardisation of food products in the various States.