THE EMPIRE'S PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 20 April 1907, Page 3

THE EMPIRE'S PARLIAMENT

COLONIES CLAIM TO FULL I'AIM'. NERSHIP. iw.-. . PERMANENT IMPERIAL COUNCIL. SHARP STRUGGLE AT THE U>\ TFERENCE. r-T' COLONIAL OFFICE FIGHTING Foli ITB ACVUOiViY. London, April 18. A loll", sharp struggle is proceedim; at- the Conference over .Mr. Deakin's proposal for an independent secretariat instead of that of the Colonial Ollice. Mr. Deakiu declared that lie did not want- the Conference to possess executive powers, ov even an advisory power in the sense conveying any authority to interfere with local self-government. but - he did want the Conference to lw pm on a permanent !>asls, to be more reguv larly organised, and its constitution slightly altered so as (o better express its real purpose and character. He suggested that besides the Prime -Ministers, their .Ministerial «.-olleagues be. admitted to lend the assistance required, and to have the status of the self-governing colonies recognised not only by the [ire.- idency of the British Premier, but bv cutting the self-governing dominions oil' altogether from the Colonial Of lice. I/>rd Elgin is lighting tooth and nail against the proposal to diminish the scope of the authority of his department. * NEWSPAPER NOTICES. Sydney, April 1(1. Both the morning papers advocate the necessity for caution with reference to Mr. Deakin's proposal for a permanent Imperial Council. The Telegraph says: ".Mr. Deakin is trying to lead into new paths, where there are many difficulties to meet with, and no prospect of any compensating advantages." London, April 18. The Daily Telegraph says that 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: "Australia and New Zealand, even at some risk, support a vigorous forward movement. Cape Colony and Natal also advocate, in a little less dere, the Conference moving forward ina definite recognised place in the. ' scheme." THE AUSTRALIAN PROPOSAL. Opposition weakening. : > Received 19th, 9.4 a p.m. i London, April 19. Mr Deakin proposed that the Secre- ' tariate should deal with all matters ex- < optionally interesting to the colonies, > .and should communicate through theJiri- < tish Prime Minister, leaving matters of < pure administration or merely current t communication, to pass through the pre- f sent or any other channel, the Colonial i Premiers to communicate with the t ■British Premier or with each other by t the same channel, it being the duty the Secretariate, between the Confer- i ences, to enable members to meet well t primed, thus economising time and 1 avoiding the necessity to leave over t many undecided subjects for ncx|c Con- n ference. , The discussion is rendering a compro- o miae probable, a disposition being in s evidence to agree to establish an Imperial Council, comprising the British Prime Minister, who would preside, the Secretary of State lor the Colonies, and the Colonial Premiers. It is probable there will be complete administrative separa- j tlon between the autonomous and Crown " colonies, upon the ground that the aut- c onomous colonics are governed by their own people, while Crown colonies are *' governed by the Motaerland. v Mr Deakin and Sir Joseph Ward "j strongly criticised the present system of Colonial Office administration, and ar- ® gued both for reforms and division. 8 Dr Jameson (Cape Colony) and Mr Moore (Natal) supported them. Sir Wilfrid Laurier's and Mr Botha's opposition to the Australasian proposals is weakening, but there will Jie no definite decision until to-morrow, when s the final terms of the resolution wiil be announced. • The' Colonial Olficc also shows a tendency to compromise. The military defence question is to be -j; discussed to-morrow, when Sir Svden- s ham Clarke attends. 0 Naval defence is sat down for discus- p ston on Tuesday, and preferential trade y On Monday