THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8440, 11 May 1907, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS. , Received May 'lO, 7.25. am. LONDON, May 9. At the Imperial Conference the following resolutions were carried:— TREATY OBLIGATIONS. That the Juivw-Tial Government be requested to propero Lor the- infornation of colonial Governments statements showing th<> privileges conferred and the imposed on the colonies by commercial treaties, and Ihisl c inquiries be instituted to aseeriain how far it is possible to make tho:-e obligations and benefits uniform throughout the Empire. (Moved by Mr Deakin, for Australia. That all double should be removed as to the right of Uu- self-governing dependencies U> make reciprocal agreements with >•,,. h other and with the United Kindlon., aid, further, that such righl .-should not bo fettered by Imperial" U'c<ii.ios or conventions without their omcurrence. (Moved by Sir J. Ward, for New Zealand). UNIFORMITY Rfcl TRADE MARKS AND PATENTS. That this conference urgea the adoption of Imperial legislation by his Majesty's Government, after full fior&ultation with the colonies, to ! Jj&Vide uniform laws for the granting and protection of merchandise marks and patents. (Moved by Di\ Jameson, for Cape Colony.) RECIPROCITY AS TO LAND SURVEYORS. That reciprocity should be established between the respective Governments and examining authorities throughout the Empire with regard to the examination and authorisation of land surveyors, so that any surveyor who has properly complied with the tests and conditions prescribed by the Imperial Government or the Government of any self-governing dependency, and has duly reieived the requisite authority, to enable him to act as surveyor, should be enabled ,to practise his profession in any other part of the Empire, subject 'only to his satisfying the Government or examining authority of the j country in which he desires to practise of his knowledge of the necessary local Acts or regulations which may be in force therein relating to the survey of land therein. (Moved by Sir J. Ward/for New Zealand. The conference also passed n resolution advocating greater uniformity in the method of compiling the trade statistics of the Empire, and in company laws. BARRISTERS' RECIPROCITY. The conference recorded and reserved for further consideration the following resolution:—That provision should be made throughout the Empire for the reciprocal admission of barristers to practise, and in particular that the mere fact that in any dependency the two branches of the profession are amalgamated should not be a bar to the admission of barristers of that dependency to practise in England or elsewhere. (Moved by Sir Joseph Ward, for New Zealand.) , Recieved May 10, 8".42 a.m. LONDON, May 9. Mr Lloyd-George, President of the Board of Trade, is trying to block Mr Deakin's Imperial Fund resolution, declaring that it is a matter for the Treasury only. Mr Asquith Chancellor of the Exchequer, deel nes to attend the conference to discuss the subject. Received May 10. 11.25 p.m. LONDON, May 10. Mr Deakin explained that his Imperial Fund resolution had been tabled as a general'affirmation rather than a precise proposal and was designed to promote consideration of any other methods which, besides preferential trade, could be employed consistently with the development of trade and intercommunication. He said that the one per, cent, duty was more an indication than a proposal to serve as a basis of argument. He quite recognised the difficulty of bringing the several legislatures into harmony regarding the definite disposal of the funds. Even now no co-operation was possible without the consent of the legislatures. He desired to discuss the best means of providing a method whereby the necessity of Imperial co-operation for pacific purposes could be kept constantly before the people and Parliament, so that, as required, there could be an examination of all promising schemes for promoting the prosperity of the dominions. Mr Deakin admitted that the proposal was originated by Mr J. Hofmeyer and modified by Mr Sydenham Clarke, who held that the fund ought not to be purely for defence. The proposal suggested the means and motive of co-operation, and threw the responsibility on those declining to act in common., Mr Lloyd George said that Mr Deakin's proposal differed from Messrs Hofmeyer's and Clarke's since Imperial defence was an essential part of their schemes. Owing to the Motherland's large expenditure on the navy and the small colonial contribution obviously more could be said in favour of a scheme for applying the fund partly for the Durpose of defence instead of solely for the purpose of improving intercommunication. Personally, he thought the proposal unbusinesslike, unfair, unjust and unequitable, and contrasted the United Kingdom's approximate contribution of three and a half millions with Australia's £IOO,OOO, New Zealand's £20,000, Canada's £400,000, New Foundland's £5,000, Cape Colony's £40,000, Natal's £25,000,—a total of £590,000 for all the autonomous colonies. Thus the United Kingdom was asked for seven and a half pounds for every pound paid by all the autonomous colonies together. It was also unfair to ask Canada to pay fourfold as much as Australia. It would be thoroughly unsatisfactory to create a fund first and then consider how to spend it. Mr Deakin interjected: There will be no compulsion upon the legislatures, who are perfectly at liberty to control their own contribution. Mr Deakin characterised Mr George's speech as preposterous. Sir Wilfrid Laurier suggested the adjournment of the discussion.

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