PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 173, 20 January 1912, Page 5

PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

A UNIFORM RAILWAY GAUGE.

ASSISTANCE TO IMMIGRANTS,

By Cable —Press Association—Copyright, Melbourne, January 19.

The Premier's Conference resolved in favor 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 Westralia voted against the motion, on the ground that the report was unlikely, in view of the differing claims of the various States and the Commonwealth, to bring nearer the solution. ,

The question of securing uniformity in the assistance given to immigrants was referred to the heads of the State Immigration Department. It was further resolved to, .ask the Commonwealth, Government to' provide for 25,000 assisted passengers and immigrants yearly, paying the cost of transportation on a uniform basis, the States to select and place the immigrants, with a right to supplement the number of assisted passengers allotted. The conference ■ appointed Dr. Ashburton Thompson as a Royal Commission to enquire and report on the standardisation of food products in the various States. i THE COMMONWEALTH'S POWERS. Received 20, 1 a.m. Melbourne, January 19. The Premiers discussed Mr. Holman's proposal for vesting in the Csmmonwealth wider powers. Mr. Holman opposed handing over the domestic commerce, and favored giving power to deal with new protection tariff's, industrial arbitration, and nationalisation or control of intertate monopolies. If, he said, the States permitted internal monopolies they should stew in their own gravy. The discussion was adjourned until Mr. Holman's draft Bill is circulated.