IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13462, 15 April 1907, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Dy Telejfranh.— Association.—Copyright.

London, April 12. The Premier, Sir Henry CampbellBnnnerraan, states that British Ministers will attend the Imperial Conference only when the business affects their Departments.

It is expected the Premier will offer a cordial welcome to the delegates, abstaining, however, from making any but the barest reference to the programme.

The Times says the announcement that the Premier will address the Conference at its opening has been received with general satisfaction.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Evelyn Cecil (Conservative), inquired whether the Government intended to give effect to the resolution of the associated Chambers of Commerce.

Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman replied that preferential trade occupied a prominent place among the subjects for discussion at the Imperial Conference.

The Westminster Gazette declares that the Government cannot consent to changes in the basis of the fiscal system. (Received April 14, 4.40 p.m.) London, April 13. While the London Chambers of Commerce decided to inform Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman that, the recent poll was largely favourable to protection, the free trade group insisted also that he should be informed that the poll only included 1519 votes out of 3200.

Tin" Conference will hold its meetings at the Colonial Office (whether daily or not will depend on the convenience of the representatives), and will he presided over by the Secretary of State. The Prime Minister will attend the first sitting- and deliver the opening address. Al.. H. W. Just, of the Colonial Office, who accompanied Air. Chamberlain during his visit to South Africa, will act as secretary of the Conference. COLONIAL REPRESENTATIVES. The colonial representatives who will attend the Conference are: — Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada. The Hon. A. Deakin, Premier of the Commonwealth. Sir William Lyne. Sir Joseph Ward, Premier of New Zealand. Dr. Jameson, Premier of Cape Colony. Dr. Smartt, Gap*- Colony. The Hon. V, 11. .Moor, Prime Minister of Natal. Sir Robert Bond, Newfoundland. General Botha, Premier of the Transvaal. An important proposal to be brought before the Conference will be that tor the establishment of a permanent Imperial Council, to comprise representatives of each of the self-governing colonies. This Council would be merely deliberative and consultative, and would do in a permanent anil constitutional manner what has hitherto been effected informally by Imperial Conferences. Another matter for discussion will be the formation of _an Imperial Intelligence Bureau, the services of which would be available in Loudon for advice on colonial and Imperial affairs.

SUGGESTED PERMANENT COUNCIL. It is suggested by the High Commissioner for New Zealand that the Conference shall become a permanently-constituted Council, which would meet when necessary, and to which should be attached an advisory commission sitting- in London, consisting of colonial experts, and including the High Commissioners ami Agents-General. This Advisory Commission would collect and tabulate information on all .Imperial questions, and would tend to diminish anv chance of friction between the colonies and the Mother Country. In well-informed colonial opinion some such body has Income necessary, and this view lias been strengthened by (he circumstances of the New Hebrides Convention and the Newfoundland fishery modus vivendi, both of which questions, it is believed, will come un for discussion at, the Conference. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION. The question of trade relations within the Empire will also be raised. Practically all the colonies represented will put forward preferential trade for discussion, and intercolonial reciprocity will also be considered. The visits of deputations from the Transvaal Indians and Uasutos have drawn the attention of Ihe public to the question of legisation for the native races and Asiatics in South Africa, and in this connection the legislation of Natal in regard to Asiatics will be discussed. Problems of colonial defence and the manner in which the colonies can best contribute to the naval strength of the Empire will also be considered. The Navy League lias placed before colonial statesmen a scheme tinder which reserve ships of the navy would bo laid up in the colonies, the seafaring population of which would tilths have an opportunity of forming a valuable body of men, trained with the latest equipment, and equal to the Royal Naval Reserve.

Among ottio.' matters for discussion are the following;: Reciprocity as regards the admittance to practice of barristers and surveyors; the future of tin? Pacific Islands: reservation of Bills, passed by colonial legislatures; naturalisation; Imperial postal arrangements; Imperial Court of Appeal; merchant shipping and coastwise trade; organisation of the Colonial Office; Imperial stamp charges on Imperial Bonds; silver coinage; decimal currency; metrical system; mutual protection of patents throughout the Empire.