IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1918, Page 4

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last NightThe following summary of the pre • ceedings of the Imperial War Confer enco during the week ended July 13 hai been received by the Governor-General from the Secretary of State for the Colonies:— i The Imperial War Conference, on reassembling for its seventh meeting on July 8, on the return of the Dominion members from France, first passed an address of congratulation to the King and .Queen on their Majesties' 'silver wedding, expressing its fervent wish and prayer that their Majesties might long be spared to live and reign over an Empire united in loyalty to ip Sing and Queen. Later in the day, his Majesty replied to the address, saying that it afforded great pleasure to* the Qneen and himself. The Prime Ministers of the Dominions and other oversea representatives tttre present at the thanksgiving servie» at St. Paul's, and expressing their plfcyef that, under Divine Providence, the blessings of peace may Soon be restored, bringing again a reunion of home life, which is the basis of the well-fceing of the whole Empire. This meeting-was mainly occupied with certain economic and financial questions arising after tho war,,and certain resolutions of a confidential nature wer» passed. A further resolution was agreed as to . the desirability for the establishment of an Imperial bureau of mycology, for the purpose of investigating fungoid.diseases, and contributions to such bureau should be made by the Governments of the Empire. The eighth meeting was held on July 10. At this meeting the first business was a statement by .the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the question of double income tax. The Chancellor explained the concessions made to ths overseas Dominions under the Finance Act of 1916 and the subsequent Acts. It was generally agreed that further actiom is impracticable during the war, hut th« opinion expressed last year was reiterated, namely, the whole question called for a review immediately .after the conclusion of the war, and that an amendment of the law should bo made to remedy, the present unsatisfactory position. The next subject discussed was Imperial statistics, and the Conference passed a resolution approving of the proposal of the Dominions of a Royal Commission to hold a conference of statisticians after the war. the Conference to consider the establishment of an Imperial statistical bureau under the supers vision of an Inter-Imperial Committee. A further resolution states:—'The Conference is impressed With the importance of securing an adequate news service available for all parts of the BritfA Empire, nd the supply of such serviea through British sources." The Conference requested his Majesty's Government to formulate a scheme and submit it for consideration of- the Governments represented at the Conference. In discussing this question the desirability of a British news service to Canada and Newfoundland was particularly, emphasised.

At the ninth meeting, held on the tilth July, the first resolution passed dealt with the action taken and: contemplated, ky his Maje3ety's Government with & view to freeing the industry of the United Kingdom from dependence on Gorman dyestnffs, and recommends ether Governments of the Empire to consider immediately what steps can he taken to co-operate with the efforts of the Imperial Government to promote the successful development of the dye industry in the British Empire, and so avoid enemy domination over essential induatries.

The Conference next considered the question of inter-Imperial communications, and accepted in principle. &e establishment of an Imperial investigation board to deal with the question of ocean freight rates.' The Conference appointed a committee to frame a detailed scheme for such board, and also to consider the best machinery for promoting the development of Imperial communications to the best advantage, with special reference to the probable size of vessels and the consequent demands upon harbor accommodation for th» jur« poses of Imperial requirements. The last resolution passed at this meeting stated that the Conference considered it desirable, for the purpose of encouraging Imperial trade, that the present facilities for inter-Imperial parcels delivery should be improved and co-ordi-nated, and recommended the preparation of a detailed Scheme to promote tfai> object.. *