THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 29 April 1907, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

At'STKALASIA AND IMMICiKATION. London, April 2b'. Speaking on Australia's emigration resolution, Mr Doakiii said he considered Uat i.he Emigrants' information Bureau did little good. His sharp criticism of that lirunch of the Colonial Office dUconccrtcd the official:., particularly as lo iheir attitude re-glinting recruiting labor here fur Queensland sugar plantations. An ollicial attempted to explain the omissions from the Bureau's report on the ground tiiat u was undesirable to say much respecting the Kanaka and White Australia unctions.

.Mr D.-nkln roiort(\j that Austr.uia was not ashamed of her treatment of the Kanakas or the White Australia policy, and the Uurea.i wan perfectly at libeity lo spe:ik openly on Jioth quw- ; lions Mr Dcakin dealt with the urgent need for increa-cl immigration to Aimiralin, and indicated the sort likely tO succeed.

Hpeaking 1 on emigration to New Zealand at the Ooiifcrcuc, Bit Joseph said ilint to entertain indiscriminate emigration would not ho approved in New Zealand, and though he was a believer

in helping to obtain a steady increase of population from Great Britain they had to bo careful to guard against unsuitable people being sent to the colony, It was as much In the mwreitu of Great Itrilain to retain the best class of her people as to send them abroad, and upon that assumption they desired to send a class the majority of whom were not best suited to lemain In England, lie could not agree to any selection of people for New Zealand excepting under responsible supervision ami the control of the High Commissioner Jor New Zealand and his staff. He thought that wns New Zealand's best way to proceed. New Zealand was glad to w ceive people from Great Britain if they i were of a suitable class and had some

capital. Iu the last twenty years fifiOO people, had received passages at ro-s iluccd rates and had taken capital Into New Zealand amounting to £278,000, and llicy had in addition, -without assistance, also drawn upwards of 50,000 to the colony from British possessions. He vlid not advocate any indiscriminate sending out of unskilled labor, who had neii her means nor vocation, . and who would merely flood the lafcor market. There was opening for farmers and others with capital, also for domestic servants, and with the system ot con' trol and supervision now carried out, as well as the nominated practice which had been in operation for some years, he thought they could meet the reasonable requirements of the colony. He preferred'that the expansion of the colony should go on on steady lines without upheaval or possibility of turning back.

Mr John Burns insisted that the Bureau had done valuable work) hut the Government was considering the advisability of its reorganisation. He Btated that a proportion of the emigrants proceeding to the British colonies as compared with foreign countries was steadily increasing. He aid not approve of colonisation by bodies of persons, and thought there was an opportunity now for the colonies to obtain useful artisan colonists, especially builders. He emphasised the extreme value of child emigrant on the lines of Br Bamardo'S Homes.

THE NATURALISATION QUESTION. London, April 20. The subject of Naturalisation was raised, and the Now Zealand and Cape resolutions were discussed.

Mr Gladstone explained the draft of an Imperial Naturalisatoin Bill, which was apparently considered satisfactory. Mr Gladstone suggested that the principles of naturalisation be affirmed and details be left to . .libsHiary conference.

This was considered undesirable, the Conference preferring to examine the subject. Further discussion was -adjourned.

DOUBLE INCOME TAX. A FRUITLESS CONFERENCE. THE METRIC SYSTEM AND SILVER COINAGE. London, April 28. Mr Deakin and Sir Joseph Ward saw Mi- Asquith and a dozen Treasury experts, who said it was impossible to take action regarding double income tax and the decimal and metric systems. The delegates regretted that the discussion had proved fruitle-s. The question of silver coinage wai then raised, and ilic officials presented a memorandum showing it was impossible to agree to Australia's proposals. Mr Dealcin replied that the memor j andum did not contain figure* enabling him to test the general reasoning adduced. He wished information respecting the apparent profit on the coinage of silver used in Australia.

Mr Asquith directed the information to be supplied.

Mr Deakin also asked for figures showing what Canada paid for her subsidiary coinnge. Discussion was postponed. , . |

THE EMPIRE'S APPEAL COURT. Received 28(h, 4.30 p.m. London, Apil 2*. The Conference discussed, hut did not adopt, Mr. Deakin's proposal that it was desirable to establish an Imperial Court ot Appeal.

('ape Colony's resolution was carried affirming the importance of maintaining the appellate jurisdiction of the King" ill-Council, also a resolution submitted by Mr. Botha, and supported hv Dr. .limieson and Mr. Moor, affirming the principle of a Court of Appeal for United South Africa.

-Mr. Deakin remarked (hat the Privv Council was not altogether acceptable to Australia. If one uniform court was impossible, Australia desied an Order-ill-Council giving a colony power 'to transfer its appeals to the House oi Lords if it so wished. This left the othei colonies, who desired no change, free to do as (hey liked. Sir Wilfrid Lanrier said (he (hidings of the Privy Council were generally approved in Canada.

| Sir Joseph Ward said he was generally I satisfied with existing arrangements, hut did not object to a uniform Court of Appeal. If practicable, and in order to advise in colonial Privy Council cases, a dudge of the Supreme Court of the colony ufleeted should sit with the judicial committee, without taking part in argument or decision, but merely supplying information regarding Colonial Law. Sir Joseph said he believed a New Zealand Judge on leave would be generally available when New Zealand made appeals.

Urd l.orelmrn (tlio Lord Chancellor), referring to Mr. Deakin, argued Unit it would be no real lulviuitngo to displace the jndii'inl committee. Already experienced colonial Judges assisted tlio judicial commiUee. Lord Lorclmm claimed that hist year's appeal work was expeditiously disposed of. He concurred in Sir Joseph Ward's suggestion, and stated tlie fusion of the House of Lords mid the Judicial Committee had not been adequately discussed iu the United Kingdom as a practicable measure, lint Judges of the Lord's Appeal Court were already available for service on the Judicial Committee.

The discussion was adjourned until Tuesdav.

IATESr CABLE NEWS.

TOOTH) PBBSS ASSOCIATION -BY JUKCTBIC THSOBAPa— COPYBIOIIT.