THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 14524, 28 November 1910, Page 4

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND'S REMITS. [ltaott Odb Parliamentary Rkpoeter.] vVMiLLfiSTGTON, November 28. Sir J. G. Ward announced that the following subjects vvoukl be brought up by the New Zealand representative- at the Imperial Conference : —Admission of the Prose— Tlvat the Conference be open to Uw Press, except when the subjects ore confidential. —lmperial Representation.— That the Empire haa now reached tho stage of Imperial sentiment which renders it expedient that there should be an Imperial Council or State with representatives from all oanstifoant parts of tho Empire, whether self-govornhig or not, in theory and in fact to be advisory to tho Imperial Government on all questions affecting interests of tha Ovaryjas Dominions. —Roconstitution of the Colonial Office.— It k essential.'that the departments of tho Dominions bo separated from the colonies; each department to be placed under a isecrotary. That in order to give due effect to modern Imperial development, it has now becoino advisable to change the title of Secretary for the Colonies to that of Secretary for Imperial Affairs. That a staff secretariat be incorporated with tho Dominions' department. That all questions relating to the self-governing ; Domimqns bo referred to this department. Tho High Commissioners fo be informed of matters affocting their Dominions, with a view to their Governments expressing opinions thereon. That tha High Commissioners' he- invited to attend meetings of the Coinmitteo for Dofonoo when questions on naval or \ military Imperial defence affecting tho Overseas Dominions aro under discussion. That the High Commissioners be invited to consult with foreign Ministers on matters of foreign industrial, commercial industrial, and social affairs in which the Oversoas Dominions arc interested. That tho High Commissioners should become tho solo channel of communication between the Imperial and Dominion Government*, the Governors-General, and Governors, identical and simultaneous information to bo given on all oocasion-s. —Tnlerch mge of tho Civil Service.— That, in the interests of the Imperial Government aud of the. Overseas Dominions, an interchange of selected officers of the respective Civil Services should take place from time to time, with a view to the acquirement of a better knowledge with regard to questions affecting the respective Governments. —Universal Penny Postage.— 111 view of the social, political, and commercial advantages accruing from international penny postage tho Conference recommend His Majesty's Government as to the advisability of approaching the Governments of the other States known to be favorable to the scheme, with a view to united action being taken at the next Congress of tho Universal Postal Union. —State-owned Atlantic Cable.— That in order to secure a measure of unity in tho cable and telegraph services within the Empire the scheme of telegraph cables bo extended by the laying of a State-owned cable between England and Canada, and Hint the powers of tho Pacific Cable Board bo extended to enable the Board to lay and control such -cable. ---State-owned Telegraph. - That in order to facilitate handling of traffic, and to secure entire control over tho route in which it is engaged, the powers of the Pacific Cable Hoard be extended to enable the Board to erect a land lino across Canada. —Cheap Cables.— i That in view of tho social and conuner- I cial advantages which would result from increased facilities for intercommunication botween her dependencies and Britain, it is dcsirablo that all possible means bo taken to secure a reduction of cable rates throughout tho Empire. —Telegraphic Communication.— That tho great importance of wireless telegraphy for social, commercial, and defensive purposes renders it desirable that the scheme of wireless telegraphy approved at the Conference held at Melbourne iu December, 1909, bo extended as far as practicable throughout the Empire, with the ultimate object of establishing a chain of British State-owned wireless stations, which, in an emergency, would enable the Empire to bo to a groat extent independent of submarino cables. —AU-rcd Mail Route.— That in tho interests of (ho .Umpire it is desirable that Great Britain should be connected with Canada, and through Canada with Australia and New Zealand, by the best mail service available. That ,'or the purpose of carrying the. above desideratum into effect a mail service bo established on tho Pacific between Vancouver. Fiji, Auckland, and Sydney by first chiss steamer's of not less than 10,000 tons, capable of performing the voyage at an average speed of sixteen knots. That in addition to this a fast service be established between Canada and Great Britain, the necessary financial support required for both purposed to bo contributed by Brijtaiu, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in equitable proportions. —lmperial Court of Appeal.That it has now become evident, considering tho growth of population, diversity of laws enacted, and differing public policies affecting tho legal intcqjretalion of the Ovorsea Dominions, thaLonlmpcriftl [ Court of Appeal can be satisfactory which Joes not include judicial representatives of these Oversea. Dominions. —Uniformity of Law*.— That it is in the best interests of the Empire that there should bo more uniformity throughout its cantrcs and dependencies in regard to law of copyright, patents, trade-marks, companies, accident compensation, naturalieation, immigration, aliens' exclusion, currency, and coinage. —Shipping.— That tho solf-Roveming Oversea Dominions have now reached that 6tage of development when they should be entrusted with wider legislative powers in reepwt to British and foreign shipping. —Reciprocity.—■ That in order to relievo both wives and children and tho poor of the relief of tne burdens of the United Kingdom and her dependencies, reciprocal provisions should be made throughout constituent parte of the Empire with raspect to destitute and deserted persons. —lncome Tax.— TJiat it is inequitable that tersans resident in tho United Kingdom who, under the laws of a scii-governing dependency, pay an income or other tax to the Government of such dependency in respect of income or profits derived from the dependency should have io pay further tax in resj>ect of the same income or profile to | the United Kingdom, arid therefore it is most desirable that imperial legislation should be introduced to removo this di> ability. —Colonial Bonds.— That in order to encourage the investment in bonds of the Oversea Dominions, it is desirable that debentures or other securities issued in the United Kingdom by or oif account of the Governments of tho selfgoverning dependencies should bo exempted from stamp duty. Sir ,T. G. Ward announced that the House would be given an opportunity of discussing tho remits on Wednesday