THE ANNEXATION CONFERENCE. (Reuter's Telegrams.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1672, 8 December 1883, Page 10

THE ANNEXATION CONFERENCE. (Reuter's Telegrams.)

Sydney, November 29. , At the afternoon sitting of the Conference a long discussion took place on the draft of the serieß of resolutions by Mr Service advocating the annexation of New Guinea, New Hebrides, and other islands of the Pacific. The text of resolutions is withheld from the Press. Further discussion on Mr Service's motion stands adjourned till to-morrow.

November 30. It has transpired regarding the series of resolutions tabled by the Hon. J. Service at the Annexation Conference that they were in effect as follows :— -1. That it is necessary to prevent New Guinea and the islands from the equator to New Hebrides falling into the hands of a Foreign Power. 2. That to preclude such a disaster, it is desirable to urge the Imperial Government to annex or establish a protectorate over those islands. 3. That the Colonies .are willing to bear a reasonable proportion of the cost of such annexation or protection. 4. That the Colonies .protest against the proposal of "the French Government in regard to the recidivistes, and appeal to the Imperial Government to prevent such dire calamity as is threatened. 5. That ia view of the foregoing and many other important matters, the time haa arrived for binding the Colonies in federal union on such matters as the Convention may determine. It ia understood that there is a divergence in views among delegates on the question of annexation, some being in favour of limited action only.

The Hon, Mr Griffith, Premier of Queensland, has tabled a series "of resolutions similar to those of the Hon. J. Service, but limiting annexation to New Guinea, and urging the immediate establishment of British jurisdiction there.

The Hon. Mr Dalley, Attorney-general of New South Wales, proposed an amendment on the Hon. Mr Griffith's motion. The amendment is similar to the first and second clauses of the Hon. J. Service's motion, but it omits others.

The Hou. F. Whitakor has strongly advocated that the Conference should define the relations of Navigator and Friendly Islands towards Australia.

The Conference appointed a sub- committee consisting of the five Premiers, the Hon. Messrs Service, Stuart, Bray, Atkinson, and Griffith, to consider the various resolutions which have been submitted, and frame final resolutions for adoption by the Conference, which now stands adjourned until to-morrow. It has transpired that at this morning's sitting of the Conference Mr Stuart detailed at length the terms of the understanding which exists between England and France regarding the New Hebrides.

Mr Stuart further notified that MrDalley, Attorney-general of New South Wales, was reparing a scheme for the reduction of charges on telegrams between Australia and Europe, which would be submitted to the Conference, v

Mr Service presented a memorial on the subject of Federation, which bad been drawn up by European residents in Fiji. Mr Dibbs, Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, gave notice of motion in favour of adoption of federal quarantine at Albany (West Australia), Thursday Island (Queensland), and Auckland (New Zealand).

A meeting of the sub- committee of Premiers was held this afternoon. It is understood that an agreement was arrived at on the subject; of Annexation which is considered satisfactory by Mr Service* the mover of the first series of resolutions.