CABLE NEWS. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Feilding Star, 30 May 1907, Page 2

CABLE NEWS. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

■.■l ■ ■■- [BT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH— COPYRIGHT.] [PEB PKEBS ASSOCIATION.] VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICE. May 30th, 10.14 a.m.) Sydney, May 30. Matters in connection with the Vancouver service are still pending, and there is a probability of the c?rvice, on greatly improved lines, becoming the pricipal medium for the conveyance of English mails. This view is evidently before the mind of the Federal Government, as an alternative, if the Mail Syndicate's contiact falls through. It is wellknown that the Postmaster has a leaning towards the Canadian route, and favours the work being carried out, if possible, by an Australian company. STRANDED AUSTRALIANS. Melbourne, May 30. The steamer Atlantic has arrived wi.h 400 Australians who were stranded in South Africa. PREMIERS' CONFERENCE. Brisbane, May 30. At the Premiers' Conference, a long discussion on the " Braddon Blot'" ensued. Tho Premier of Tasmania introduced a motion to make fixed return per head to States. He said Tasmania was suffering severely under the Federal financial scheme. The other States voted against the motion. Sir John Forrest, in a speech, made it quite clear that the Government would not. under any circumstances, lace ,and had the customary veil ana bourne Premiers' Conference, but a motion was made that they be confirmed. An amendment was moved on the first clause, rererriug to the "Braddon Blot," so as to lca*e the way open for a compromise in view of Sir John Forrest's determined stand. Mr Carruthers was quite willing to accept Sir John Forrest's proposals, if provision were made to afford Tasmania and Western Australian exceptional treatment. It was a serious tiling to ask the Commonwealth to commit itself irrevocably to this schome-of finance. If thoy could get the Commonwealth to take over the debts and pay the interest, instead of adhering to the Braddon clause, it would lead to the solvency of the States * Sir John Forest desires to see the "Braddon Blot" expire in 1910, substituting the return of a fixed amount based on the average of the past five years. Strong opposition is manifested by the "large States. New South Wales will lose 21 per cent, by the proposal. Eventually the Conference agreed to an average being taken over nine years, instead of five. This has been done by way of compromise.