AUSTRALIAN PREMIERS' CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 3 June 1907, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERS' CONFERENCE

<s» 1 THIS STATES' DEBTS. Brisbane, June 1. Mho Conference reconsidered the debts question, after Sir Joint lorrc-sl's llr Carrut'uers (N'.SW.) complained of the grubbing fcpirit of tlie London underwriters. New South Wales' experience had been thai I lie cost of underwriting 1 , together with commission and .-tamp duties, amounted to .CJ. Los per cenl. Tlieiv was no patriotism in London linanee: if was to-day the rottenest money market in the world. Mir John Forrest had hinted that the Commonwealth might lake over the Post Ollice Savings Hank. He (Mr Carruthers) would say -Clod lad]) the Commonwealth if if threatens us that way." If il were going to net the part of n crushing machine, then it would have to consider (he people. Mr Carruthers, continuing his speech, said he had come prepared to get rid of the friction between New South Wales and the other States of the Commonwealth, lie had a scheme which he had not yet proposed. It was to constitute v li.iai'i or commission of experts representing each State to go thoroughly into the whole (piestion. That would be better than discussions at Premiers' Conferences.

After further discussion, the Conference reiterated its former decision—that tlie time is not ripe to take over the debts—Victoria and South Australia dissenting. It was resolved to appoint some competent person at the joint expense of the States to examine Commonwealth measures introduced, and advise the States whether their rights were being infringed. Received 3rd, 1.12 a.m. Brisbane, June 2. The Premiers' Conference resolved, in consideration of the financial losses sustained bv 'Tasmania owing to the opera Hon of federation, that CIO.OOO annually be added to the amount actually returned to Tasmania from July. 11101, to Dc-cember.-lnio, and that the fixed amount be determined; that the basis be also decided. The Conference also resolved in favor of representation at the FrancoBritish exhibition next year, and asking the Commonwealth to develop deep-sea fisheres.