AUSURALIAN PREMIERS' CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 31 May 1907, Page 2

AUSURALIAN PREMIERS' CONFERENCE

BRADDON CLAUSE DISCUSSION. Brisbane, May 30. At the Premiers' Conference there whs a long discussion on the Braddon blot. The Premier of Tasmania introduced ,i motion to make a fixed return per head to the States. Tasmania, lie said, was .ufiVnni/ severely under the federal scheme.

The other States voted against the motion.

Sir John Korrest, in a speech, made it quite clear that the Government would not under any circumstances accept the resolutions of the .Melbourne Premiers Conference, but a motion was made that iliev be confirmed.

All amendment was moved on the first clause referring to the Braddon blot so as to leave the way open for a compromise in view of Sir John Forrest's determined stand.

-Mr. Carruthers said he was quite willing to accept Sir J. Forrest's proposals if provision were made to all'ord Tasmania and Westralia exceptional treatment. It was a serious thing to ask the Commonwealth to commit itself irrevocably to a scheme of iinanec. If they could get the Commonwealth to take over the States' debts and pay interest, instead of adhering to the Braddon clause, it would lead to the solvency of the States.

Sir John Forrest desires to see the Braddon blot expire in 1010, substituting the return of a fixed amount based or the average of the past live years. Strong opposition is being manifested by large States. New South Wales would lose 21 per cent, by the proposal. Eventually the Conference agreed to an average being taken over nine years instad of five. This was done by way of compromsie.

Received 31st, 1.18 a.m. Brisbane May 30. ■The preamble now reads, that the method of payment should be by a fixed sum equal to the average annual amount of three-fourths of the net revenue from excise and customs which the. respective States contributed during nine years prior to 31st' December, 1910. This leaves the Federal Parliament [master of the situation. If after 1010, tile Federal customs excise exceeds the aggregate amount of the annual fixed sum guaranteed, any such sum in excess shall lie distributed on a per capita basis.