AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8145, 23 May 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE COMMERCE AOT. Reoeived May 22, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, May 22. ! . The regulations under the Com merce Act are ready to be Gazetted. Xhey are very comprehensive and stringent, especially as regards exports. Those dealing with imports aro somewhat meagre. They affect comparatively new lines. Heavy penalties as well as forfeiture of goods is provided in cases of infringement. Three months notice must be given after Gazetting be fore the regulations are enforced. THE PREMIERS' CONFERENCE. Received May 22, 10.20 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 22. The publication of the papers in connection with the Premiers' Conference at Sydney of the proposal by Mr Balfour's Government, as to instructing the Australian Government to reserve all Bills subjecting to disabilities oV excluding from privileges the natives of Asia for the King's assent, came as a surprise to Mr Deakin, who says it was marked as "confidential." Mr Deakin has made a protest against any curtailment of the rights of Australian legislatures to pass such laws. It now appears from certain papers whiob have been published that Mr Deakin tolegraped to Mr Carruthers, who replied that he had no objection to the proposal of Mie Imperial Government. Mr Seddon, however, cabled to Mr Carruthers in protest, declaring that the whole, thing was unnecessary, as the King bad powers of disallowance; and be had reason to believe that if the self governing oolcnies objected the despatch would be withdrawn. He added:—"You will, I hope, agree with me that there is one tbing above all others we should jealously guard—namely, anything infringing our action respecting the preservation of raoiai purity and landing undesirable immigrants. We are protesting and hope you will take action in a similar direction." Mr Seddon also is of opinion that the most objectionable feature about the whole thing was the making of instructions "confidential" by the Hon. A. Lyttelton, theu Colonial Seoretary. The Premiers' Conference dis cussed the subject and decided to send Mr Lyttelton a drtlft bill for submission to the House of Commons, setting out what class of Bills should be reserved for Imperial approval. PHOSPHORUS POISONING. Reoeived May 22, 9.30 ; a.m. SYDNEY, May 2b. Twenty-five out of a herd of three hundred cattle at Yass have died from eating phosphorus laid for rabbits, JUBILEE CELEBRATION. RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Reoeived May 22, 9.56 a.m. SYDNEY, May 22. . Great preparations are being made for the celebration of the jubilee of responsible government in New South Wales, to-day, and of Empire Day on Thursday. Mr Seddon, in a letter to Mr Carruthers, the State Premier, stating his inability to remain for the jubilee celebrations, says: "The desire of New Zealand is that as we started as one>great family so we may remain, and although politically working out our destinies apart, our best efforts shaLbefor the advancement of civilisation, promoting the prosperity and happiness of the people and the solidarity of the Empire." Received May 22, 7.4 p.m. SYDNEY, May 22. Despite unpropitious weather a large gathering assembled at Parliament House to mark the jubilee of responsible Government in New South Wales. Sir H. H. Rawson, in the obarse of a speech, read a message from King Edward, in which the latter thanked the State for its loyalty, and expressed a hope that the progress and prosperity that had marked the colony would continue in the fullest degree. Mr Carruthers referred to the unique character of the gathering, and the great beneficient change wrought by constitutional Government. The Hon. Wm. MoCourt, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, struck a pessimistic note when he asked "whether our progress was as healthy as it looked?" "We do not own a sleeper of our railways or a briok of our publio buildings," said the speaker. "They belonged to the people of England from whom we borrowed millions. We had to import from abroad every thug we wore, ate or used." With regard,to defence they were as badly off as 50 yeara ago. He mentioned that since responsible Government had been granted, the 746 gentlemen elected had taken 142,000 pages of Hansard to hoH what they said. Sir John See paid a tribute to the pioneer legislators, and said that despite the croak of pessimists the country was prosperous, and ever getting stronger and stronger. He believed Australia would become a 6trong power in the world. Mr Edden said that the Labour Party which he represented was as loyal to the Grown as anyone in the Empire. After luncheon Sir H. Rawson opened the Jubilee Library. THE WEATHER. Received May 23, 1.8 a.m. SYDNEY, May 22. 71 A stiff south-easterly gale is raging. There is'a rough sea.

CABLE NEWS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright THE CRICKET CRISIS, s Received May 23, 1.41 a.m. SYDNEY, May 22. The Cricket .Asssociaticm has ad* vised the Marylebone Club of the suspension of Messrs Noble, Duff, Carter, Mackay, Diamond, Garnsey I and O'Onnuor. MUTUAL LIFU SOCTETY. Received May 22, 9 30 a.m. SYDNEY, May 22. Mr Eeunie, General Manager of the Mutual Life Society of New York, denies the report that his company is considering whether the National Mutual Company shall take over its Australian business. Mr Rennie has received a oable message from the head office to the effeafc that the Mutual Life has not dreamed of and cannot make any agreement to reinsure or transfer any policy anywhere to any company,