EMPIRE PREMIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1921, Page 5

EMPIRE PREMIERS.

WIRELESS TELEPHONY, CHEAPER PRESS MESSAGES. SUPPORT FOR REDUCTION. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received July 20, 12.5 a.m. London, July 18. A special committee representing the ‘ Premiers’ Conference met at the Colonial I Office, Mr Winston Churchill (Secretary i for the Colonics) in the chair. Mr. [ Hughes (Australia). Mr. Massey (New 'Zealand), Mr. Smartt and Mr. Mentz | (South Africa), and Mr. Ballantyne I (Canada) were present. J The committee discussed wireless telephony, and after hearing statements by the Pos: master-General and Sir Henry Norman the committee recommended that developments in wireless telephony, whether Government or .private enterprise, should, be investigated, and reports furnished to the Governments of India and the Dominions. i The committee then considered the question of nationality. They approved proposals suggesting the acquisition of | British nationality by persons of Brir fcish descent of second and subsequent I generations born abroad who should be I subject to registration at birth and renewal of registration as British subjects on attaining their majority. j The committee resolved that a conferI ence of patent officials of the Dominions I should meet in London at an early date. > The patent conference would consider !the practica'bleness of instituting a system of granting patents which would be [valid throughout the British Empire. [ Easily, the committee considered the [ representations of the Empire Press

Union, and it was resolved that the committee agreed with the resolution pa-eed at Ottawa in 1920, that any assistance, given by the Governments of the Empire towards the reduction of chargee for Press services by .'able or wireless should appear spec.’fleally in the estimates of public expenditure, and should not affect# the freedom of newspapers. The committee is in full sympathy with a reduction of rates, both by cable and wireless f,or Press messages, and recommends the most favorable examination by the Governments concerned vof any practical proposals to that en(T—Aus*N.Z. Cable Afisn.

IMPORTANT WORK REMAINS. • END EXPECTED NEXT*" MONTH. Received July 20, 12.35 a.m. London, July 19. The Prime Ministers, except Mr. Meighen, will be the guests of the city of Bath next week-end. Mr. Hughes will probably leave for Australia ai. the end of August or the beginning of September. Probably he will be unable to visit France. There is an impression that because Mr. Meighen is leaving for Canada on Friday the Imperial Conference has practically terminated. On the contrary, many important subjects remain to be discussed, and it is impossible to close before the second week in August. Mr. Hughes and Mr. Massey came to deal with two matters —the Japanese Treaty and Pacific prcllems—and neither is settled, but Mr. Hughes w’ill insist upon some form of guarantee before leaving. It is reported unofficially that negotiations with the Admiralty are proceeding satisfactorily, but a settlement is not in sight.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.