INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE HELD AT SYDNEY (DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES RESPECTING PROCEEDINGS OF THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1881 Session I, A-03b

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1881. NEW ZEALAND.

INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE HELD AT SYDNEY (DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES RESPECTING PROCEEDINGS OF THE).

Presented to loth Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (No. 12.) Sir, — Downing Street, 11th May, 1881. I have received from the Governor of New South Wales a report of the proceedings of the Intercolonial Conference held at Sydney. I have perused this report with much interest, and I hope that the deliberations of the Conference may eventually result in the adoption by the Legislatures of the Australasian Colonies of several measures conducing to the general benefit of the whole group. Some of the questions considered by the Conference require separate and special notice, and I shall address to you further despatches dealing severally with those points which appear to call for my observations. I have addressed a similar despatch to the Governors of the other colonies represented at the Conference. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G. Kimberley.

No. 2. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (No. 13.1 Sir,— Downing Street, 11th May, 1881. I have had under my consideration the resolutions agreed to by the Intercolonial Conference held at Sydney in January last with reference to the relations of British subjects with the natives of the Western Pacific Islands, and to the office and functions of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. Her Majesty's Government highly appreciate the ability and earnestness with which Sir A. Gordon has discharged the responsible duties devolving on him as the first High Commissioner. They are nevertheless sensible of the importance of the points raised in the resolutions, as to several of which I have for some time past been conferring with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; and the views of the Conference will receive full and careful consideration. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G. Kimberley.

No. 3. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (No. 14.) Sir, — Downing Street, 11th May, 1881. I have had before me the representation of the Intercolonial Conference held at Sydney in January last, on the subject of the introduction of Chinese immigrants by the Government of Western Australia at the public expense. I am well aware of the strong objections which are entertained generally in the Australian Colonies to an extensive Chinese immigration; but in the peculiar case of Western Australia, which comprises an enormous tract of country, more than a third of which lies within the tropics, strong evidence of injury already sustained, or likely to be sustained, by the neighbouring

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colonies, would be necessary to justify Her Majesty's Government in interfering with the arrangements sanctioned by the Legislature (two-thirds of which is elective) for the very limited immigration now proposed. It does not appear to be alleged that any of the Chinese hitherto introduced into Western Australia have passed into the other colonies ; while, on the other hand, each of those colonies already contains a much greater number of Chinese than Western Australia will have after the new immigrants have arrived. I should not, of course, desire to see a large Chinese population introduced into Western Australia, and I shall carefully watch the results of the small immigration to which my attention has been called by the Conference; but, under the circumstances as at present known to me, I am not prepared to interfere with the action of the West Australian Legislature. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G. Kimberley.

No. 4. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (No. 15.) Sir,— Downing Street, 11th May, 1881. In the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Intercolonial Conference held at Sydney in January last, I observe a resolution on the subject of the naval and military defences of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. Her Majesty's Government have noticed with much satisfaction that part of the resolution which pledges the members of the Conference to use all legitimate endeavours to procure the efficient fortification and land defence of the Australian ports at the cost of the colonies interested. They are, however, unable to express similar satisfaction at the suggestion that the outlay for naval defence of the Australian Colonies should be increased., and at the same time that it should continue to be exclusively a charge upon the Imperial Treasury. On this point I am glad to see that the representatives of South Australia place on record their opinion that the colonies ought to contribute to the cost of maintaining the Australian Squadron. I have, &c., Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G. Kimberley.

No. 5. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (No. 16.) Sir, Downing Street, 12th May, 1881. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 9, of the 21st of February last, enclosing a memorial signed by members of the Intercolonial Conference respecting the action taken by the Government of Western Australia for the introduction of Chinese immigrants to that colony. I have expressed my views on this subject in the despatch which I addressed to you and to the Governors of the other Australasian Colonies on the 1 lth instant. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G. Kimberley.

Authority : Gr. Didsbubt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBl.