AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5199, 13 February 1904, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CABLE NEWS; UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. —BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —00PYE1GH*

MORE PEOPLE WANTED. SUGGESTIONS FOR ATTRACTING SETTLERS. (Roceilvod February 12, 10.42 p.ra.) MELBOURNE, February 12. Mr A. Deakin, Premier of tho Australian Commonwealth, made an important speech at the Conference of State Treasurers ao-day on tho subject of immigration. He stated that in the matter of population Australia’s increase from outside was stagnant, and made no progress. Sir Deakiri thought each State, even for its own self-protection, mllghit without hesitation unite in a genera] effort 'to promote immigration. Any- Australian effort put forth to encourage desirable immigrants, said the Premier, should be consistent, continuous, ai)d for certain periods. Ho thought tho natural advantages of Australia—especially its social and political conditions—wore not equalled elsewhere. The trouble was that Australia was practically unknown. Ho painted out that Canada spends a hundred thousand annually with the object of attracting papulation. Some leading men in Australia doubted whether Australia was called upon to enter into an expenditure of this kind, but it seemed inevitable that if they wished for an increase in papulation tlhoy must bo prepared in somo way to force tho situation. •

pne question which, the States might fairly consider, continued Mr Deafcin, was to encourage the immigration of desirable people by conveying them over the railway system free, or at a reduction which would make the cost to them not appreciably greater than that incurred in proceeding to Northwest Canada or the interior of Argentina,. _Ho also recommended more systematic advertisement of the advantages to ho found in the Commonwealth, and suggested a travelling exhibition of products. THE CONFERENCE OF TREASURERS. (Received February 12,. 10.42 p.m.) MELBOURNE, February 12. Tho Couforcaco of State Treasurers closed without coming to any definite conclusions on tho matters it was called together for (cno of tiho principal objects being to doviao a veil cine for the taking over of State debts by tho Commonwealth).. . .Sir George Turner, federal Treasurer, will write a memorandum on the differences existing between himself and the. State Treasurers.

It is hoped by negotiation and consideration to pave the way for another conference in, April.