THE MONETARY CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1212, 24 May 1895, Page 33

THE MONETARY CONFERENCE.

London, May 15. The Hon T. Playford, Agent-General for South Australia, urges the Marquis of Ripon to reply definitely whether he will support the claim of the colonies to send delegates to the Monetary Conference, supposing one is held. London, May 16. The Marquis of Ripon has replied to i he Agents-General that, owing to the fact than he has received no intimation of the holding of the Monetary Conference, he is unable to consider whether the color ies can be allowed direct representation at ■ ho Conference. Berlin, May 16. The Prussian Diet has passed a resolu tion in favour of bimetallism. Melbourne, May 18. The Argus, in referring to the persistent insistence of the Agent-General- of South Australia for colonial representation on the Monetary Conference, says that if by any fluke South Australia is allowed tosend a silver delegate, Victoria, Queensland and New Zealand will have* to send gold delegates, as those

Colonies cannot permit their exceedingly large gold interests to be ignored for want of proper advocacy. The peculiarity of South 'Australia"3 action, says the Argus, is that that colony produces no silver and scarcely any gold. The paper goes on to say that England cannot allow her colonies to modify her policy with regard to her own monetary standard. No doubt she would assent to any colony choosing a standard for itself, and would not pretend in the slightest degree to interfere with its liberty of action, but she would claim the same liberty for herself.

From Our Special Correspondent. London, April 5. Mr Hogan, M.P., has quite superseded Mr Heaton as member for Australasia. On Monday the representative of Mid-Tipper-ary asked Sir Wm. Harcourt whether he was aware that the Australian colonies and New Zealand are anxious to be represented at the approaching Monetary Conference; whether it would be possible to arrange for direct colonial representation at the Conference; and, if not, whether he would, in appointing British delegates, consider the propriety of nominating at least one gentleman competent to voice the opinions of the colonies on the important question to be discussed ? Sir William rose in all his ponderosity, and replied in solemn tones, “Her Majesty’s Government have received no intimation of an approaching Monetary Conference, and the question of any arrangement with reference thereto has therefore not arisen”; an answer which filled the face of Hogan, M.P., with much amazement. Evidently the much - talked -of Monetary Conference is high in the air at present. Mr Hogan and a few others have been nursing the delusion that it would take place some'time in 1895. Those who are anxious to bring it about might do worse than arrange for a sort of private international Monetary Conference. By appointing Hogan secretary they would get the debates fairly well reported in the papers, and might possibly rouse a good deal of public interest in bimetallism.