PROPOSED COLONIAL CONFERENCE IN 1907 (FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO A).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1906 Session II, A-04a

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Session 11. 1906. NEW ZEALAND

PROPOSED COLONIAL CONFERENCE IN 1907 (FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO A).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

Table of Contents.

Serial No. From or to whom. Colony. Date. Subject. \__ 1 Governor Sir William MacGregor Newfoundland Canada (Telegram) 1905.' November 18 (Rec. Dec. 2) (Rec. Dec, 5) Reports that his Ministers agree in principle to the institution of the contemplated Joint Commission. , Reports that Ministers have no objection to the Conference being held in 1907 instead of 1906. Reports that Ministers agree to the postponement of the next Conference until 1907. Encloses copy of a minute from Ministers stating that they are desirous that the Conference should meet in 1906, due consideration being given to the wishes and necessities of the various Governments in regard to the actual date of assembly. Reports that his Government have no objection to postponement until 1907. Governor-General Earl Grey 3 Governor Sir H. E. McCallum Natal (Telegram) December 22 (Rec, Dec-. 22) Governor Sir W. E. llclyHutchinson Cape December 6 (Rec. Dec. 23) Governor- General Lord Northcote Australia (Telegram) Newfoundland New Zealand (Telegram) (Rec. Dec. 23) December 8 (Rec. Dec. 28) 1906. (Rec. Jan. 26) 5 6 Governor Sir William MaeGregor Reports opinion of Ministers that it would be advisable to postpone the meeting of the Conference till 1907. 7 Governor Lord Plunket Reports that Ministers see no objection to postponement of the Conference until 1907, but would prefer that it should be held at an early date in that year. Proposes that Conference should meet early in March, 1907. Confirms No. 8 : requests to be furnished with a statement of any subjects which the colonial Governments desire should be discussed. Inquires whether proposals concerning fiscal matters and preferential trade throughout the Empire will be admitted. States that any proposals on fiscal matters which his Prime Minister may wish to bring forward will be submitted to the Conference. Informs them that 15th April, 1907, has been fixed as the date most acceptable to the colonial Premiers, and invites them to attend on that day. 8 To Governors of self-govern-ing colonies Ditto (Telegram) February 19 9 February 22 Governor Lord Plunket New Zea- | ( land (Telegram) New Zealand (Telegram) (Rec. April 27) May 12 HI II To Governor Lord Plunket.. 12 To Governors of self-govern- i ing colonies (Telegram) May 12

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Correspondence.

No. 1. Newfoundland. Governor Sir Wμ. MacGregor to Mr. Lyttelton. (Received December, 2, 1905.) S IRj Government House, St. John's, November 18, 1905. With reference to your despatch of 16th October, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers agree in principle to the institution of the contemplated Joint Commission. I have, Arc, - Wμ. MacGj:egoh.

No. 2. Canada. Governor-General Earl Grey to Mr. Lyttelton. (Received 7.50 p.m., December 5, 1905.) (Telegram.) Referring to your telegram of 29th November, Responsible Ministers have no objection to Colonial Conference being held in 1907 instead of 1906.

No. 3. Natal. Governor Sir H. E. McOallum to the Earl of Elgin. (Received 11 a.m., December 22, 1905.) (Telegram.) December 22.—N0. I.—Referring to your telegram, 29th November, Ministers are agreeable to postponement of next Colonial Conference until 1907.

No. 4. Cape Colony. Governor Sir W. F. Heley-Hutchinson to Mr. Lyttelton. (Received December 23, 1905.) g tH Government House, Cape Town, December 6, 1905. 1 have the honour to transmit to you the document specified in the annexed schedule. I have, &c, Walter Hely-Hutchinson

Date. Description of Document. 6th December, 1905 .. Minute from Ministers : Date of meeting of the next Colonial Conference.

Enclosure in No. 4. Ministers to Governor. (Minute.) Prime Minister's Office, Cape Town, December 6, 1905. In acknowledging the receipt of His Excellency the Governor's minute of the 30th ultimo, transmitting a copy of a telegram from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated the 29th idem, relative to the date of meeting of the next Colonial Conference, Ministers have the honour to state in reply that they are desirous that the Conference should meet in the year 1906, due consideration being given, however, to the wishes and necessities of the various colonial Governments in regard to the actual date of assembly. T. W. Smartt.

No. 5. Australia. Governor-General Loud Northcote to the Earl of Elgin. (Received 7.50 a.m., December 23, 1905.) 11-rfrrhtno to your telegram of 29tli November, Colonial Conference, Government have no objection to postponement, 1907.

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No. 6. Newfoundland. Governor Sir Wμ. MaoGbbgob to Mr. Lyttelton. (Received December 28, 1905 ) ,„.,, . Government House, St. John's Decemhpr R i or»^ I have.. &c, Wμ. MacGregor.

No. 7. New Zealand. Governor Lobd Plunket to the Earl of Elgin. (Telegram ) (Received 7.40 a.m., January 26, 1906.)

No. 8. The Earl of Elgin to the Governors of Self-governing Colonies (Telegram.) (Sent February 19, 1906.) . fi?K=2 f* M^' S £- Despatch follows by mail.

No. 9 Mr Lord,- EARL ° F *° Go ™ BOM 0F Self-governing Colonies preparation for a Conference by that time aPPe&r t0 be P r »«*icable to make copies of the redesired that the Conference should meet this yelr the o£r cZ + Whlh C&pe M[^^ J^JtSSJ be glad to learn if that date would be convenient to your Prime Minister *"* X Sh ° uld 4. My predecessor communicated to your Government, in his despatch of 7th n v , the parliamentary paper containing the correspondence with v, aes Pf cl ! « f 7tl i December last, J out of his despatch of 20th April, which dealt S nrt-Z T Dml Gwernme «te arising future Colonial Conferences P I 'do no eel nTySI^Su c "l ng *' or g a " izati <>n of 7. His Majesty's Government feel every oonfidenop that +V. Q , + n j have preceded it, it will help to increase the J£d understanding S 7 7?'*?■' Hke thoSe which tween the Governments of the various Se I have, <fee, ! : Elgin.

*Nos.lto7. + No.B. t Not printed."

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No. 10. New Zealand. Governor Lord Plunket to the Earl of Elgin : (Received 7.50 a.m., April 27, 1906.) CpMnS!?Kswenoe : My Responsible Advisers, whilst aware that Governments of self-governing colonies will be invited to submit proposals for consideration at Conference, would be glad to know whether proposals concerning fiscal matters and preferential trade throughout Empire will be admitted.

No. 11. New Zealand. The Earl of Elgin to Governor Lord Plunket. (Sent May 12, 1906.) RBFimiSTtrVonr telegram of 27th April,* any proposals regarding fiscal matters which your Prime Minister may wish to bring forward will be submitted to Conference, in accordance with my despatch of 22nd February.!

No. 12. The Earl of Elgin to the Governors op Self-governing Colonies. (Sent 2.45 p.m., May 12, 1906.) RroSftoay despatch, 22nd February,! I have now ascertained by communication with all the colonies concerned that the date for Colonial Conference most acceptable to all Premiers, having reeard to the varying conditions involved in the meeting of their Legislatures, will be April 15th next, in place of tie previous suggestion of a date early in March. I have therefore much pleasure, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, in inviting your Prime Minister to attend the Conference on 15th April.

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