STATE PREMIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8942, 30 May 1907, Page 1

STATE PREMIERS.

THE BRISBANE CONFERENCE. THE QUESTION OF STATE RIGHTS. United Prect Aseooiatioh— By Electeio Telegraph — Copyright. BRISBANE, May 29. At the Premiers' Conference the question of the States' rights was discussed. Mr Kidston said there was a tendency on the part of the Colonial Office to readily accede to an arrangement under which it would have only one Government in Australia to deal with, and under which all other Governments should communicate with it through the Governor-General. Ha distinctly objected to make any recommendations in the matter of honours through the Governor-General. I Mr Carruthers said that, although they had not the full report of the Imperial Conference, they knew that 0. proposal had been submitted there the result of which would be a change in the relation of the States to the Colonial Office. Instead of having the 1 Colonial Office dealing with colonial or State affairs, there was a probability that they would have the various States placed under aai Imperial secretariat. This new arrangement would be a creation by a Conference from which the State Premiers were excluded. A committee was appointed to draw up a memorandum setting forth tho views the Premiers' Conference holds as regards the channel of communication with the British Government. The memorandum will be forwarded to Lord Elgin through the Governor of Queensland.