THE PREMIERS' CONFERENCE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14682, 13 May 1908, Page 7

THE PREMIERS' CONFERENCE

THE FINANCIAL PROPOSALS

OLD AGE PENSIONS

ADVERTISING A DSTIU Li i. United Press Association—Bj Electee Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, May 12.

The Premiers' Conference concluded without reaching a settlement of the financial problems. It adopted a fierier of resolutions to the effect that it viewed with apprehension Sir "William Lyjio's proposals, considering that il adopted they would fcriously affect the financial independence and solvency of tho States. No financial scheme could lie absented to which did net provide for their receiving a fixed annual sum, and a proportionate part of all increases in tho Customs and excise revenues. For the purpose of enabling the Federal Government, to initiate a general scheme of old ago pensions the States were' willing to accept a smaller percentage than three-fourths of tho Customs and excise revenues. It was further resolved that the States should be tho sole judges of rasing loans without interference from the Council of Finance; that the amount returnable to the States should bo on a per capita. ba.=is; that the sinking fund proposal, without making equitable, provision for compensation, was objectionable; that in the event of the Commonwealth taking over tho debts they should be reduced by the. sum of the transferred properties. Tho resolutions urged an. early settlement, of the question, and its submission, to the State Parliaments as early as possible.

Mr Deakin and Sir "William Lyne attended and discussed the. resolutions. Mr Deakin suggested that when tho tariff was out of the way, he wouid submit Sir William Lyme's proposals and the Premiers' resolutions to the Federal Parliament; then, if the States thought fit they could have a further conference.

The conference discussed tho question of the Federal States in. co-operation promoting immigration. Referring to a recent cable message, Mr Deakin said that tho Federal Government had not considered the proposal of subsidising the "Standard," but it was considering a. proposal for advertising Australia by taking a certain space in a new weekly issued by that paper, the rest of tho issue to be made lip of cablegrams from Canada, South Africa, and other parte of the Empire. He wanted to see if the States would join in taking part- in. this advertising.