IMPERIAL CONFERENCE, 1911 (RESOLUTIONS TO BE MOVED BY NEW ZEALAND'S REPRESENTATIVE AT THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1910 Session I, A-04

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1910. NEW ZEALAND.

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE, 1911 (RESOLUTIONS TO BE MOVED BY NEW ZEALAND'S REPRESENTATIVE AT THE).

Laid upon the Table of tlie House by leave.

PUBLICATION OF PROCEDURE. That the Conference be open to the Press, except when the subjects are confidential. IMPERIAL REPRESENTATION OF OVERSEA DOMINIONS WITH A VIEW TO FURTHERING IMPERIAL SENTIMENT, SOLIDARITY, AND INTEREST. That the Empire has now reached a stage of Imperial development which renders it expedient that there should be an Imperial Council of State, with representatives from all the constitutional parts of the Empire, whether selfgoverning or not, in theory and in fact advisory to the Imperial Government on all questions affecting the interests of His Majesty's Dominions oversea. RECONSTITUTION OF THE COLONIAL OFFICE, ETC. (1.) That it is essential that the Department of the Dominions be separated from that of the Crown Colonies, and that each Department be placed under a separate permanent Under-Secretary. (2.) That, in order to give due effect to modern Imperial development, it has now become advisable to change the title of " Secretary of State for the Colonies " to that of " Secretary of State for Imperial Affairs." (3.) That the staff of the Secretariat be incorporated with the Dominions Department under the new Under-Secretary, and that all questions relating to the self-governing Dominions be referred to that Department; the High Commissioners to be informed of matters affecting the Dominions, with a view to their Governments expressing their opinion on the same. (4.) That the High Commissioners be invited to attend meetings of the Committee of Defence when questions on Naval or Military Imperial Defence affecting the oversea Dominions are under discussion. (5.) That High Commissioners be invited to consult with the Foreign Ministers on matters of foreign, industrial, commercial, and social affairs in which the oversea Dominions are interested, and inform their respective Governments'. (6.) That High Commissioners should become the sole channel of communication between Imperial and Dominion Governments, Governors-General, and Governors on all occasions, being given identical and simultaneous information.

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INTERCHANGE OF CIVIL SERVANTS. That it is in the interests of the Imperial Government, and also of the Governments of the oversea Dominions, that an interchange of selected officers of the respective Civil Services should take place from time to time, with a view to the acquirement of better knowledge for both Services with regard to questions that may arise affecting the respective Governments. UNIVERSAL PENNY-POSTAGE. That in view of the social, political, and commercial advantages to accrue from a system of international penny-postage, this Conference recommends to His Majesty's Government the advisability of approaching the Governments of other States known to be favourable to the scheme with a view to united action being taken at the next meeting of the Congress of the Universal 1 ostal Union. STATE-OWNED ATLANTIC CABLE. That in order to secure a measure of unity in the cable and telegraph services within the Empire, the scheme of telegraph cables be extended by the laving of a State-owned cable between England and Canada, and that the powers of the Pacific Cable Hoard be extended to enable the Board to lay and control such cable. STATE-OWNED TELEGRAPH-LINES ACROSS CANADA. That in order to facilitate the handling of the traffic and to secure entire control over the route in which it is engaged, the powers of the Pacific Cable Board be extended to enable the Hoard to erect a land line across Canada. CHEAPENING OF CABLE RATES. That m view of the social and commercial advantages which would result from increased facilities for intercommunication between her dependencies and Great Britain, it is desirable that all possible means be taken to secure a reduction in cable rates throughout the Empire. DEVELOPMENT OF TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN THE EMPIRE. That the 'neat importance of wireless telegraphy for social, commercial, and defensive purposes renders it desirable that the scheme of wireless telegraphy approved at the Conference held at Melbourne in December, 1909, be extended as far as practicable, throughout the Empire, with the ultimate object pf establishing a chain of British State-owned wireless stations which in emergency, would enable the Empire to be to a great extent independent of submarine cables. M.1.-KKD MAM. ROUTE BETWEEN ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA, AND NEW ZEALAND, VIA CANADA. That in the interests of the Empire it is desirable that Great Britain should be connected with Canada and, through Canada, with Australia and New Zealand by the best mail-service available. That for the purpose of carrying the above desideratum into effect, a mailservice be established on the Pacific between Vancouver, Fiji Auckland and Sydney b Y first-class steamers of not less than 10,000 tons, and capable of performing the voyage at an average speed of sixteen knots. That m addition to this a fast service be established between Canada and Great Britain the necessary financial support required for both purposes to be contributed by Graat Britain/Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in equitable proportions. IMPERIAL COURT OF APPEAL. That it has now become evident, considering the growth of population, the diversity of laws enacted, and the differing public policies affecting egal interpretations in His Majesty's oversea Dominions that no Imperial Court of Appeal can be satisfactory which does not include judicial representatives of these oversea Dominions.

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UNIFORMITY OF LAWS. That it is in the best interest of the Empire that there should be more uniformity throughout its centres and dependencies in the law of Copywright, Patents, Trade Marks, Companies, Accident Compensation, Naturalization,' Immigration, Aliens Exclusion, Currency, and Coinage. shipping: That the self-governing oversea Dominions have now reached a stage of development when they should be intrusted with wider legislative powers in respect to British and foreign shipping. RECIPROCITY: DESTITUTE PERSONS LAW. That, in order to relieve both wives and children and the poor-relief burdens of the United Kingdom and her dependencies, reciprocal provisions should be made throughout the constituent parts of the Empire with respect to destitute and deserted persons. INCOME-TAX. That it is inequitable that persons resident in the United Kingdom who, under the laws of a self-governing dependency, pay an income or other tax to the Government of such dependency in respect of income or profits derived from the dependency should have to pay a further tax in respect of the same income or profits to the United Kingdom; and therefore it is most desirable that Imperial legislation should be introduced to remove the disability. STAMP DUTY ON COLONIAL BONDS. That, in order to encourage investment in the bonds of oversea Dominions, it is desirable that debentures, or other securities, issued in the United by or on account of the Governments of the self-governing dependencies, should be exempted from stamp duty.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9lo.