NEW ZEALAND AND THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 986, 29 November 1910, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND AND THE EMPIRE.

THE COMING CONFERENCE. GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. ] IMPERIAL COUNCIL OF STATE. '.. In tho House of Representatives yesterday tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), read a list of tho matters which he intends, on behalf of Now Zealand, to bring forward at tho forthcoming Imperial Conference. He explained that a „ "summary had'been sent Home on October 10, but since the motions had 1 been transmitted in full.' In reply to Mr. Hemes the Prime Minister said that an opportunity would be given for a discussion on the proposals to-morrow. Following is the text of the resolutions:— Publication of Proceedings. Thai the conference be open to the press except when the subjects aro confidential. ■ ' . • ■ Imperial-Representation. Regarding Imperial representation, of c Oversea Dominions with a view of _to c furthering Imperial sentiment, solidarity, c and interest, the motion is as follows:— ' That the Empire has now reached a j stage of Imperial development which j renders it expedient that there 0 ■ should be an Imperial Council of T ■ Slate;'with representatives from all j ' -the constituent parts of the Empire, r whether self-governing or not, in i theory and in fact advisory to tho • * Imperial Government on all questions affecting the interests of his Majesty's Dominions oversea. j • ; '."-<V.■-•.■■.■ .•■.■■■'.-•■v-7 ■'■■■;';'" '■' ' ■ I The Oversea Dominions. ( (1) That it is essential that the De- J partment of tho Dominions be separ- 3 ated from that of' the Crown colonies, ( and.that each Department be placed I "under ~a separate" permanent Under- 1 ' Secretary.; ;,- (2) That in order to give due effect to modern Imperial development it has ■now become'advisable to change the title- of Secretary of State for the Colonies to that of "Secretary of State . for Imperial Affairs." '■.." (3) That the. staff of the Secretariat.bo incorporated with ' tho, Dominions -De- c partment. under the new TJnder-Secre- i tary, and that all questions relating: c to, tho self-governing Dominions be referred to that Department;; the High Commissioners to be informed of mat-, ( ters affecting tho Dominions with- a' ] ■ view to their Governments expressing their opinions on the'same. ] (4) That tho High Commissioners 1 be in- ] vited to attend meetings of the Com- ' ' mittee of Defence when questions on Naval or' Military Imperial Defence J affecting tho oversea Dominions are J under discussion. . (5) - That High Commissioners bo invited ] to consult with- the Foreign Ministers, ( on matters of foreign industrial, commercial, and social affairs in which the oversea Dominions''aro interested, and-inform .their..respective Govern- .' : meats.'.':'..'..'..' ' : -,','■'Y"' (6) That High Commissioners should be- . come the solo channel of communi- ; cation between Imperial and Dominion ' ■ Governments, Governors-General, and ' Governors on all occasions, being given identical and simultaneous information. , Interchange-of Civill Servants. ( That it is in'the'interests of the Im- i : perial Government and also of the ' ■ oversea Dominions, ■ that an inter- i chango of selected officers of the re-spective-Civil Services' should tako ', place'from time to time, with-a view : i to the acquirement, .of better know- i ! ledge for both services with regard to questions that may arise affecting the - .. respectivo Governments. Universal Penny Postage. That in view of the social and political advantages-and the material commercial advantages to accrue from a sys- ; tem of international penny postage, ■ this conference recommends to his Majesty's Government tho advisability ] «"-of approaching the Governments of 'Mother States known to bo favourable I to the scheme, with the view of • 'united'action being taken at,the next meeting of the' Congress of the Urn- . vcrsal Postal Union. .... ■ ■ - : State-Owned Atlantic Cable. j That in order to secure a measure of ', • tmitv of the cable and telegraph lines ; within the Empire, the scheme of telegraph cables bo extended by the laying, of. a State-owned cable between i '■ England and Canada, and that the i powers of the' Pacific Cable Board be i extended to enable the.board to lay , and control such cable State-Owned Tolcgraph Lines Across Canada. That in order to facilitate the handling of the traffic and to secure entire control over the route, tho powers of the Pacific Cable Board bo'extended to enable tho board to erect a land line across Canada. Cheapening of Cable Rates. . .That,-in view of the. social and commcrcial advantages which would result from an increase of facilities for int«rcommunicati'in between the more distant Dominions and Great Britain, it is desirable that all possible means be taken to secure a reduction in cable rates throughout the Empire. ■ Development of Telegraphic Communication Within the Empire. That the great' importance of wireless telegraphy for defence and other purposes' renders it desirable that the scheme of wireless telegraphy approved at the conference held at Melbourne in December. 1909, be extended, as far as'practicable, throughout the Empire, with the ultimate object of establishing a chain of State-owned wireless stations which, in emergency, would enable the Empire to be, to a great extent, independent .of submarine cables. All-Red Mail Route Between England, Australia, and New Zealand, via Canada. That, in the interests of the Entire, it. is desirable that Great Britain should bo connected with Canada, and ■ through Canada with Australia and ' New Zealand by the best mail service ', available. That, for tho purpose of "carrying tho abovo project into effect, ■ = , a mail service be'. established on the Pacific between Vancouver; Fiji, Auckland, and Svdncy by first-class steamers of not less than 10,000 tons, capable of performing the voyage at.um average speed of 10 knots; and that a , fast service be established between . ■ Canada and Great Britain, the necessary'financial support ;belng' contributed by Great Britain; Canada, Australia, and Now Zealand, in equitable . proportions. ■■ i- . 1 ' Imperial Court of Appeal. « That it has now become evident considering the growth of population, the diversity of laws enacted .by and the > - differing public policies affecting legal : interpretations, in his. Majesty's ovor- ' ' ' sea Dominions,' that no' Imperial Court of "Appeal can bo satisfactory 3 which does not include judicial representatives of these oversea Dominions. Uniformity of Laws. '' That it is in the' best interests of the i- Empire that there should, bo more 9 ' uniformity'throughout its centres and f ' - dependencies in the law of copyright, \ \ patents, trades marks, companies, aci 1' cidont. compensation, naturalisation, -i immigration,. _ aliens' exclusion, cur--2 A rency, arid coinage.' » \ . . Shipping...." ' . That- the self-governing oversea Domin- ; •■'■' io.ns have, now reached a stage of de- . ' veiopmerit when they should bo entrust- .', ,ed; with Wider: legislntivo'-'powers m , • ': respect to .British■; 'and'' foreign ship- * pintr:-.'■'/•;' v v ; " -•;■;."•

Reciprocity Destitute Persons Law. That in order to relieve both wives and children and the poor relief, burdens of the United Kingdom and her dependencies, reciprocal provisions should be niado throughout the constituent parts of the Empire with respect to destitute unci deserted persons. Income Tax. That it is inequitable that persons resident in the United Kingdom who, under the laws of' a self-governing colony, pay an income or other tax to the Government of such colony in respect of income or profits derived from that colony, should have to pay a further tax. in respect of the same_ income or profits to the United Kingdom, and therefore it is most desirable that Imperial legislation should be introduced to jemovo the disability. Stamp Duty on Colonial Bonds. That, in order to encourage investment in colonial bonds, it is desirabl<r*chat debentures, or other securities, issued in tho United Kingdom by or on account of tho Government of the selfgoverning dependencies, should be exempted from stamp duty.