COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 12722, 27 January 1906, Page 2

COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

POSTPONED FOR A YEAR,

THE NEED OP AN IMPERIAL COUNCIL.

[Special to the Stab.]

PAHIATUA, January 27. It was understood at the last Conference of Colonial Premiers in 1902 that there was to be a Conference every four years; consequently there siiould be one this year. Speaking here last night, the Premier said that he and the Premier of the Commonwealth had iniormed the late Secretary for the Colonies (Mr Lyttelton) that they were willing to attend a Conference, which they thought should be held early in the year. Speaking for himself, he thought it only right that he should attend the first session of the new Parliament, which would open on June 28. His desire, therefore, was to attend the Conference in the month of April, and be back again in the colony for the session. Mr Deakin took the tame view, but not for the same reason, but he desired that the Conference should take place earlier in the year. On receiving this, Mr Lyttelton expressed the opinion that there would be difficulty in making the gecessary prescription and bringing tho subjects forward in a practical way; Since the dissolution of the Imperial Parliament, of course this difficulty would be all the greater, for the new Government. On being requested a few days ago to send a reply as to postponement, he (Mr Sodden) eommunicated with the Premier of Australia, and Mr Deakin replied that he had wired in .Decemb-r that Australia had no objection tooths postponeenint. On Thursday. in Cauiret the matter was discussed bv himself (Mr SedJon) and his colleagues, and the Government finally came to the conclusion that it was advisable to notify die Imperial Government that New Zealand did not_ object to the postponement. Althouvh it was a violation of the conditions laid down at the last Conference, he thought it was well, in the interests of both the Old Country and the colonics, that the Conference should not take plao" until next year. Thonvh he had been twitted on his antreme Imperialistic views, he mnst say that he believed that there was only one navy in the world, and that was the British Navy.—(Applinre.) These Imperial Conferences were the foundation of an Imperial Council, at which there would !>*• uaffiered tog-ether from all parts of the Empire, inrinding India, those who were in close ’ouch with the people and knew the reouiremeuts of th» various parts of the Empire. Such a Council in days to come would he the vreafc strength of the Empire. 'Applause.)