THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Colonist, Volume XLVIX, Issue 11813, 18 December 1906, Page 3

THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

! Received December 18, 8 0.56 a.m. , Melbourne, December 17. t A heated correspondence has been pioceeding for some weeks between • the States and the Federal and Ini- > perial Governments iri reference to representation at the Colonial Conference. The State Premiers applied to the Colonial Office for direct representation, and the matter was referred to the Federal Ministry. Mr Deakin urged that the Common-, wealth Cabinet would adequately represent tbe whole Commonwealth. The State Premiers maintain that as the States still remain Sovereign States they are entitled to send delegates, and affirm that they cannofc accept Mr Deakin as their mouthpiece on several matters which affect, the powers reserved to them under the Commonwealth Constitu- I tion'. They are still strongly pressing their claims on the Colonial Office. So far, Lord Elgin is inclined to the view that the Commonwealth Cabinet alone should send delegates.