THE INTER-STATE CONFERENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14191, 13 October 1906, Page 5

THE INTER-STATE CONFERENCE.

SIR JOHN FORREST’S FINANCIAL PROPOSALS. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, October- 12. Tho Inter-Stato Conference continued the discussion on Sir John Forrest’s proposals for the financial relations of the Commonwealth and' State in place of the Braddon clause. Several amendments were made. As amended the proposals provide that, subject to fixed payments to the States, the Gcfnmonwealth may impose additional Customs and excise duties for specific purposes, and may specifically appropriate, retain, and earmark the -whole revenue derived from such duties. If any surplus remains oyer, after providing for such. specific purposes, three-fourths of such surplus, if any, to ho annually returned to the States per capita. Sir John Forrest’s proposal that these arrangements should continue for ten years from December, 1910, the date of the expiry of the Braddon clause, and thereafter until the Federal Parliament provides otherwise, was struck out. The Inter-State Conference unexpectedly completed l its business. It resolved —“ That subject to the adoption of the resolutions previously carried relating to fixed payments to the States, the Conference expresses general approval of Sir John Forrest’s scheme to transfer State debts, and that tho matter stand over for a special confei’enco to settle the details.”