AUSTRALIAN PREMIERS CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13451, 30 May 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERS CONFERENCE.

QUESTION OF STATE RIGHTS.' By Telegraph.— Association—Copyright. (Received May 29, 9.56 p.m.) ' Brisbane, May 29. !At the Premiers' Conference to-day ■->■ th« question of State rights was discussed. The Chairman (Mr. Kidston) said there was a tendency on the/ part of the Colonial Office readily to accede to an arrangement undw which it would have only one Government in Australia to, deal with, and under which all the other Governments would communicate with it through - the Governor-General. He distinctly objected to make any recommendations in the matter of honours through the Governor* General. - : ; '*\" ■;■ > \

Mr. Carruthers (New South Wales) said although they had not the foil report of the Imperial Conference, they knew a proposal had been submitted there the result of which would he a change in the relations of the States to the Colonial Office. Instead of having the Colonial Office dealing with colonial or State affairs there was a probability they would have the various States placed under the Imperial secretariate. This new arrangement would be a creation by a conference from which the State Premiers were excluded. A committee was appointed to draw up la memorandum, setting forth the views of the Premiers' Conference \ with regard to the channel of communication with the British Government. The memorandum | will be forwarded to Lord Elgin, through I the Governor of Queensland.