THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 7188, 16 April 1887, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

[Special to Press Association.] LONDON. April 14. (Received April 16, 1887, at 1.14 p.m.) The Imperial Conference resumed their sittings to-day. Sir H. Holland intimated that the Lord Chancellor held that there was a difficulty in the way of authorising trustees to invest in colonial inscribed stock. The Imperial Government had no power to limit the borrowing of the colonies or to sue the colonies in default of dividends. : The delegates were unanimously of opinion that the colonies would not consent to allow their borrowing powers to be controlled, but they might possibly concede the right to sue for dividends. Sir F. D. Bell asked for the abolition of the stamp duty on inscribed stock ; but ap answer was given that it was unlikely to be granted at present, but it was probable that the concession in the direction named might be made after ten years. Meanwhile the duty would bo placed in a suspense account, the colonies receiving the interest. Sir W. J. Downer proposed that children bom in the colonies of marriages with a deceased wife’s .sister should be. legitimised in England, Sir H. Holland thought it unlikely that this would be conceded until such marriages were legalised in England. It would be equivalent to altering the English law of inheritance. . The question of posts and telegraphs'will be discussed on Tuesday, and of the New Hebrides on Friday. The demand fpr a deterioration fund for the colonial fleet’of warships will probably be" abandoned,' Victoria agreeing to an equivalent, increase in the .yearly charge, for maintenance.. . .