PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

Feilding Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 1457, 9 June 1902, Page 3

PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

Telegraph '^Press Association. Copyright Ottawa, June H. The Conference at Toronto has asked Sir Wilfred Laurier, Premier, to urge the Premiers' Conference to secure a Royal Commission of British and Colonial representatives to investigate and suggest a scheme of preferential treatment. A small majority was in favour ot an annual appropriation in the Budget to enable the Dominion tc decide its own special participation in the 'general defence of the Empire. The Conference further urged j Britain to accredit to foreign Governments certain consular agents to be appointed by the colonies, who would j be empowered to protect British rights. The Conference endorses the action of Canada in subsidising cargo steamships to South Africa and Australia in such away. as to enable rates to be reduced as low as from New York. Speaking at a banquet to the delegates, the Hon. I. Tarte, Minister for Public Works, confirmed the early establishment of a Canadian line of fast trans- Atlantic steamers out of Pierpont Morgan's reach. He said they must also have a Canadian line of freight steamers. The Hon. W. Mulock, PostmasterGeneral, announced that a cargo line to Australia would be established in a few lPOnths at Canada's expense, if necessary.