CONFERENCE OF STATE PREMIERS.
STATE AND FEDERAL FINANCE. United Press Association—By Eloctrio '£ e-1 egTßoh—Copyright. BRISBANE, May 30. At tho Premiers' Conference, there was a long discussion on the " Braddon blot." The Premier of Tasmania introduced -a motion to make a fixed return per head te the States. Tasmania, ho said, was suffering severely under tho 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, accept the resolutions of the Melbourne Premiers' Conference, but a motion was moved that' they should be confirmed. An amendment was moved on the first clause referring to the " Braddon blot," so as to leave 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 Australia exceptional treatment. It was a serious thing to ask tho Commonwealth to commit itself irrevocably to a scheme of finance. If they could got the Commonwealth to take over tho State- debts and pay the interest instead of adhering te the Braddon clause, that course would lead to the solvency of the States. Sir John Forrest desired to see the "Braddon blot" expire in 1910, and the substitution of the return of a fixed amount based on the average of the past five years. Strong opposition was manifested by the large States, as New, South Wales, for instance, would lose 21 per cent by tho proposal. Eventually tho conference agreed to an average being taken over nine years instead of five. This was done by way of .compromise.
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Bibliographic details
Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14386, 31 May 1907, Page 7
Word Count
281CONFERENCE OF STATE PREMIERS. Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14386, 31 May 1907, Page 7
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