MESSAGES FROM CHAMBERLAIN.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10637, 23 April 1900, Page 5

MESSAGES FROM CHAMBERLAIN.

(Received , April 22tid, 4.35 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, April 22.

The Premiers' Conference finished on Saturday night. It discussed, iour cable messages from Mr Chamberlain.

In a lengthy one, dated sth, Mr Chamberlain asked for an am* endment relating to appeals to the Privy Council, because cases might affect other parts of the empire, and the Government were considering the measure creating a court for the empire. He also desired an amendment recognising the Colonial Laws Validating Act, making ultra vires commonwealth law repugnant to Imperial. The Government pressed the Appeal Amendment but earnestly desired it carried out in the manner most agreeable to Australian sentiment, and desired the Premiers to allow the delegate* to consider the amendments. A second cable, of April 6fcb, supported Westralia'e claims because the Bill would dislocate trade. As it was reasonable to prevent delay, Mr Chamberlain suggested a compromise, allowing a change in the conditions, providing that the Parliament of the federating colonies severally passed resolutions.

A cable message of the 16th urged that authority be Sent to the delegates to consult with the Imperial Government. In Ms cable of the 17th Mr Chamberlain said that, New; Zealand was anadotis for ana amendtaient in the covering clauses of the Bill, providing that New Zealand might federate -within seven years on the same terms aa th* original States. He itad replied t&at in the absence of any expressions of Australian opinion tihe Government would not be justified im ciaking the desired amendment, Hβ had suggested that if the Prime Minister of New Zealand wishedt to preaa it he should communicate with the Ministers of the federating colonies, and if they were favourable the Imperial Government were prepared to consider it.