AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8118, 12 April 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PREMIERS' CONFERENCE

RECOMMENDATIONS

adopted;'

Received April 11, 9.20 a.m. SYDNEY, April 11.

While the conference reaffirmed the Braddon olanse resolutions, it also recommended the adoption of the clauses of the draft Bill of 1897, which limits the Commonwealth's expenditure out of Customs and Excise revenue to one-fourth of the net total. A clause was also sug geated providing that the State debts shall be transferred to toe Commonwealth, also that interest; be paid out of surplus revenue.

Mr Deakin expressed regret that no definite sum had been agreed upon. With regard to the' Braddon clause, he had hoped the conference would agree either to a definite earn for all time, or to an amount subjeot to reassessment from time to time. He, however, accepted the proposals as representing the mature views of the States, and would make no attempt to convince them that any other course should have been followed.

MR BENT ON THE CAPITAL SITE. Received April 11, 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, April 11. The Premiers were last night the guests of the Lord Mayor of Sydney at dinner. The speeohes emphasised that an understanding had been oome to for the States working well together. Mr Bent, Premier of , Victoria, suggested that the Federal Parliament. should be looated for ten years each in Melbourne and Sydney, and at the end of that time might be in a position to spend money fur a Federal capital. Mr Deakin, Federal Premier, has returned to Melbourne. COMMENT BY SYDNEY HERALD. Received April 11, 10.48 a.m. SYDNEY, April 11.

Among the suggestions made by the Premiers to Mr Deakin was that he should at the next election refer the question of making the Braddon clause perpetual to the people. The Sydney Morning Herald says: —"The decision of the Conference does not advance matters much beyond demonstrating that they have reached a point whereat the Federal and State authorities have agreed to differ. The conflict of interests was so direct that they could not have expected much else. The States have put their foot down, insisting on the Hobart resolution, whioh favours indefinite extension beyond the ten years' period of tho clause's operation."

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