THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Mail, 22 April 1887, Page 26

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright. (reuter’s telegrams.) London, April 14. The party of Conference delegates who visited Portsmouth yesterday with the First Lord of the Admiralty, inspected several torpedo gunboats and ironclads, and afterward lunched with the Admiral Superintendent. In the afternoon they witnessed a sham fight between two bodies of blue-jackets, numbering 800, and, after a trip to the Sclent, returned to . London. The Daily News to-day hopes that the discussion by the Conference of fchs question of marriage with a deceased wife’s sister will lead to the remedy of the serious grievances under which the colonies now suffer. London, April 15. A meeting of the Australian delegates to the Imperial Conference took place yesterday at the office of the AgentGeneral for New South Wales, for the purpose of discussing various subjects to be brought before the Conference. The principal question considered was that of defence, with a view to an understanding being arrived at before the sitting of the Conference on Monday next, when the question of Imperial defence will be further considered. After a lengthy discussion, it was agreed that about ten extra warships were required for the defence of Australasian ports, the annual cost of which would be LIOO,OOO, England bearing one-half the expense, and the remainder being borne by the colonies in proportion to population. London, April 14. The Imperial Conference was resumed to-day, when the following subjects were under discussion :—lst. The empowering of trustees to invest in colonial Government securities, and the possibility of’ legislation for the removal of the present difficulty. Sir Dillon Bell submitted a memorandum on this subject, which was generally approved, but which was reserved for further consideration. 2nd. Sir Dillon Bell introduced the question of the wills of colonists. With regard to this matter, Sir Henry Holland stated that the Treasury had agreed to an amendment in the Colonial R egisters Act, relieving shares on colonial registers from the payment of English probate duty. 3rd. A discussion took place relative to the stamp duties on the transfers of colonial stocks. Nothing was, however, decided upon. 4th. The delegates discussed the desire which had been expressed by the colonial Governments that unclaimed dividends on colonial stocks should be treated in the same manner as unclaimed dividends on ■ Consols. Steps will be taken which it is expected will remedy this difficulty. sth. The amendment of the marriage laws. It is unlikely that anything can be done in this matter until an English Act has passed. The Conference adjourned until Saturday next. London, April 16. At to-day’s sitting of the Conference, the following subjects were under discussion : —The enforcement of judgments, the bankruptcy laws, and the winding up of public companies. The delegates generally favored reciprocity in the en-

forcement of judgments and uniformity of the bankruptcy laws of England and the colonies. The representatives of the Imperial Government agreed that it was desirable to amend tho existing system in connection with the winding up of companies, and the Conference settled a draft of proposals for legislation in this direction. At Monday’s sitting of the Conference the postal and cable servicos will be discussed, as well as the question of defences. London, April 18. It is now announced that the following decisions were arrived at by the Australian delegates at their meeting on Friday last, to consider the question of Imperial defence. It was resolved to recommend that the Imperial Government should supply three cruisers, two vessels of the Archer type, and two torpedo gunboats, on condition that the existing fleet in Australasian waters is not lessened, and the colonies pay the cost of maintenance, which is estimated at £90,000 per annum on a peace fooling, and £160,000 in time of war. England to pay for the extra vessels and the retiring allowances of officers and men. The Imperial Government will, it is expected, approve the scheme. Loudon, April 18. At to-day’s silting of the Imp.-rial Conference, the question of the naval defence of Australasia was again under consideration. Lord George Hamilton, First Lord of the Admiralty, submitted, on behalf of the Imperial Government, a modified scheme providing for the maintenance of additional vessels in Australasian waters, the cost of which would slightly exceed the estimate made by the Australian and New Zealand delegates at their meeting on Friday last. The scheme i 3, however, virtually of a more profitable nature to the colonies than that recommended by the delegates. The latter will submit the Imperial Government’s proposals to their respective Governments, whose decision will be announced to the Conference on Monday next. (SPECIAL to united press association.) London, April 14. The Imperial Conference resumed today. Sir Henry Holland intimated that the Lord Chancellor held there was a difficulty in the way of authorising trustees to invest in colonial inscribed stock. The Imperial Government had no power to limit the borrowing of the colonies, or to sue the colonies in default of dividends. The delegates were unanimous that the colonies would not consent to allow their borrowing powers to be controlled, but they might possibly concede the right to sue for dividends. Sir F. D. Bell asked, for the abolition of stamp duty on inscribed stock ; but an answer was given to the effect that it was unlikely this would be granted at present, but it was probable that a concession in the direction named might be made after ten years. Meanwhile the duty would be placed in a suspense account,' the colonies receiving interest. Mr Downer proposed that children born in the colonies of marriages with deceased wives’ sisters should be legitimised in England. Sir H. Holland thought it was unlikely this would be conceded until such marriages were legalised in England. It would be equivalent to altering the English law of inheritance. The question of posts and telegraphs will be discussed on Tuesday, and the New Hebrides on Friday. The demand for a deterioration fund for a colonial fleet of warships will probably be abandoned, Victoria agreeing to an equivalent increase in the yearly charge for maintenance. London, April 14. At the Conference practically nothing is being done. The Government do nothing but formulate schemes, the only purpose seemingly being to seek the opinions of the delegates. Possibly an agreement may be arrived at whereby the British Government will undertake to invest trust funds in colonial securities. There is a strong feeling that the opinions of the delegates on the deceased wife’s sister question will greatly influence Parliament in dealing with the measure when again brought forward. London, April 17. The Economise, commenting on the proposals before the Conference, favors the suggestion that trustees should be empowered to invest in colonial stocks. The Spectator thinks that if the loans of the larger colonies were made irredeemable within 30 years they could borrow cheaply in Liverpool and Birmingham. Official intimation ha 3 been received by the delegates that Her Majesty has named 4th May as the date upon which she will receive them. The delegates are undecided in their views upon the scheme of naval defence, and are awaiting details. Sir F. D. Bell proposes an extension of Admiral Tryon’s scheme, with reduced contributions from the colonies, but acceptance of his proposal is improbable. One of the difficulties which confronts the Conference in dealing with the question is the commissioning of extra vessels for the colonial service in case of emergency, which has been put forward as a reason why the fleet should be placed on a permanent war footing. The Lords of the Admiralty desire that the colonies should contribute a limited total amount toward construction and maintenance. The Victorian delegates oppose the principle of this proposal. Mr Augustus Harris, the well-known theatrical manager, entertained the delegates at supper at Drury Lane. London, April 17. The telegram sent by Reuter’s Agency on Friday regarding the meeting of the delegates on the subject of colonial

defence is incorrect. At the meeting Sir Saul Samuel and Sir F. D. Bell showed that the demands made by the Admiralty upon Australia were greatly in excess of the Earl of Carnarvon’s Commission. It was resolved that Sir F. D. Bell should ask for explanations at the sitting of the Conference on Monday next. London, April 18. The question of the naval defeuce of the colonies was discussed by the Conference to-day, when the figures on which the Admiralty’s estimate of tho cost are based were submitted. Lord G. Hamilton ssid they found themselves unable to forego the sinking fund, but they were willing that the colonies should contribute about L 120,000 annually, whether in peace or war time, including L 30.000 for sinking fund lasting ten years. Two vessels from the combined fleet would ba stationed in New Zealand. Only three of the auxiliary fleet would be permanently commissioned. The others it was proposed to keep in reserve at headquarters. Tho delegates unanimously approved the proposals, subject to the Colony they represented endorsing them. Sir Patrick Jennings was in favor of the cost being divided on the basis of population. Mr Deakin urged that as New South Wales would derive most benefit from the local expenditure, she ought to contribute the largest quota. Mr Service, in an impressive speech, urged llie necessity of agreement among the delegates on this point. He pointed out that Europe would regard dissension as an indication of national weakness. The delegates generally were of opinion that discussion of the question of allotment of' cost was premature. London, April 19. Tho discussion of the Pacific Islands question by the Conference has been postponed till Monday, at tho request of Mr Service.