CONFERENCE OF PREMIERS

Otago Witness, Volume 25, Issue 2321, 25 August 1898, Page 13

CONFERENCE OF PREMIERS

SYDNEY, August 21.

The conferer.ee of Premiers on the New Guinea land grab adopted a series of resolutions which will not be made public till they axe presented to the Governor ef Queensland. It is understood they unanimously protested against the grant to the syndicate as at present contemplated. Resolutions were also carried embodying suggestions for the future administration of New Guinea on a more satisfactory basis than the present one.

It has transpired that the Premiers 1 Conference decided to renew the protest respecting the New Guinea concession, and to urge Mr Chamberlain to get tli« Queen to ■withhold her consent to the ordinance. Although the Premier of Queensland has not signed the protest he is in full accord with the decision. If the ordinance is assented to New South Wales and Victoria will probably withdraw their contributkfES to the cost of administering New Guinea. With regard to the future control of New Guinea the conference recommended that either the sole administration should rest with the Queensland Government or that the Imperial authorities .should administer it as a Crown colony. It was decided that if the Imperial Government withdraws the subsidy to the Merrie England, the New Guinea Government service vessel, New South Wales and Victoria will withdraw their contributions.

The Pacific cable was discussed, and it was decided that if the Imperial Government and Canada, together will contribute or guarantee five-ninths of the cost, New Sou;Jt Wales, Victoria, and Queensland will each contribute one-ninth. The opinion was expressed that New Zealand was a illing to contribute the remaining one-nmtli. It was decided on the proposal of Queenslaud to strengthen the defences of Thursday Island, Queensland finding £7000 to strengthen the forts and armaments, and New South Wales and Victoria pi'ovi'litig increased troops. With reference to the Paris Exhibition it was agreed that the space allotted is too small, especially for New South Wales and Victoria, and unless it is increased it is doubtful if these colonies will exhibit.