AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 30

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE

MELBOURNE, January 17.

The Premiers’ Conference was opened to-day. Mr Murray was voted to the chair. Sir John Fuller, Governor of Vic : toria, welcomed the delegatee. January 18.

In opening the Conference of State Premiers Sir John Fuller stated that the Constitution would prove unworkable without friendly co-operation between the States of the Commonwealth. Mr M'Gowen (Premier of New South Wales) foreshadowed that the conference would bt marked by a spirit of give-and-take. It was decided to ask Mr Fisher to explain the Commonwealth banking and uniform railway gauge proposals. It was decided to ask the Commonwealth to pay 3i per cent, on transferred properties. There was a long discussion on the question of a standard railway gauge. January 19. At the State Premiers’ Conference it was resolved to favour the appointment of a committee of leading railway engineers to report on the question of a uniform railway gauge between the capital cities, and the cost of conversion. New South Wales and Westralia voted against the resolution, on the ground that the report was not likely, in view of the differing claims of the various States of the Commonwealth, to come any nearer a solution. The question of securing uniformity in the matter of assistance to immigrants was referred to the heads of the State Immigration Departments. It was further resolved to ask the Commonwealth Government to provide for 25,000 assisted passengers and immigrants yearly, and for paying the ccst of their transportation on a uniform basis, the States to select and to place the immigrants, and also to have the right to supplement the number of assisted passengers allotted them. The conference appointed Dr Ashburton Thompson a Royal Commission to inquire and to report on the standardisation of the food products of the various States.

The State Premiers discussed Mr Holman’s proposal for vesting in the Commonwealth wider powers.

1 Mr Holman said he opposed the handi ing over of domestic commerce, but lie | favoured giving power to deal with the j new protection, industrial arbitration, and ! the nationalisation or control of inter- ! state monopolies. He said that if a | State permitted internal monopolies it should stew in its own gravy. The discussion was adjourned until Mr Holman’s draft bill was. circulated. January 20.

Mr Fisher attended the State Premiers’ Conference and explained the Commonwealth proposals to the States in regard to the Commonwealth Savings Bank. The Commonwealth, he said, did not intend to exclude the States from the bank, but were prepared to make them partners, on the basis of the States supplying a portion of the capital, not exceeding one-half, and to become jointly responsible for its liabilities, and to share the profits. The proportion of capital subscribed by each State would be for the use of its bank ss far as practicable. The Commonwealth will take over the State Savings Banks, the States to have the first call on any loams to repay the savings banks’ existing loans, and also to have the first call upon three-quarters of the deposits that are available for investment. Mr Fisher said lie was prepared to discuss the question of management. After he had answered a number of queries, the discussion was adjourned. Resolutions were carried appointing a committee to inquire into questions of double income tax, for bringing the company law of the various States into accord with British law, further to investigate the question of daylight-saving, and asking -the Federal Government to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the carriage and disposal of Australian produce in Great Britain and foreign countries. January 21. A lengthy discussion took place on Mr Fisher’s Savings Bank proposals. Mr M'C lowen said he believed a Commonwealth Bank would be of material interest to the States’ future development, and suggested that (he Commonwealth be allowed to have 25 per cent, of the new business of the savings banks of the States on loan for. say, five years. Mr Fisher would thereby be able to finance the Commonwealth. The discussion was unfinished when 1t ■ e conference adjourned until Monday. January 22. At the Premiers’ Conference it was resolved not to accept Mr Fisher’s Commonwealth Bank scheme. The conference adopted the following proposal : —“ That in consideration of the Commonwealth Bank refraining from entering on savings bank business, the States agree to supply on loan to the Commonwealth Bank monthly an amount equal to 25 per cent, of the increase of the excess of deposits over withdrawals from the Savings Bank, to operate from the first of the present month for a period of five years.” Mr Watt (Victoria) was the only dissentient.

The Premiers have not finished the discussion on Mr Holman’s proposals for the transfer of powers from the States to the Commonwealth. ADELAIDE, January 17. A proclamation has been issued dissolving the South Australian Parliament. PERTH, January 17. The Westralian Parliament is prorogued to April 16.