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have the honor to respectfully approach your Lordship as Her Most Gracious Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, and to represent to your Lordship certain transactions now taking place in Western Australia, which we consider highly prejudicial to the best interests of Her Majesty's free and loyal subjects in this part of the world. " As a preliminary explanation, we desire to point out that the computed population of the six colonies we represent is over 2,500,000, while the population of the Crown Colony of Western Australia is under 30,000 souls. In all the six colonies a strong feeling prevails in opposition to the unrestricted introduction of Chinese, this opposition arising principally from a desire to preserve and perpetuate the British type in the various populations. In several of the colonies stringent measures have been passed at different times to restrict the influx of Chinese immigrants even at their own expense. In Queensland a law of this restrictive character exists at the present time. In New South Wales a similar Bill was passed by the Legislative Assembly not two years ago, though it was subsequently lost in the Legislative Council; and in South Australia a similar measure was twice passed by the House of Assembly last year. The present Conference has been convened to consider, amongst other things, the subject of Chinese immigration, and a resolution has been agreed to ' recommending uniform legislation on the part of all the colonies to restrict the influx of Chinese into these colonies.' " It is while sitting in conference that we learn for the first time that the small and remote Colony of Western Australia is introducing Chinese at the public expense. In the Government Gazette of that colony of 28th December last the following notice was published:— "' Chinese Immigrants. " ' Colonial Secretary's Office, " 'Perth, 28th December, 1880. "' The Legislature having sanctioned the introduction of Chinese immigrants into the colony at the public expense, the Government is prepared to receive applications from settlers who may be desirous of employing such immigrants as farm labourers, shepherds, gardeners, mechanics, or domestic servants. Application to be made in writing on the following form, copies of which may be obtained at the offices of the Colonial Secretary and the various Eesident Magistrates. Fifty immigrants must be applied for before action can be taken by Government. The immigrants to be taken over from the Government Immigration Agent immediately on arrival, free of expense to the Government. " 'By His Excellency's command. " ' Gippoed, Colonial Secretary.'

Name, Occupation, Number of Persons 01] f°r W^° h Wages per month offered, and Address of required of each Where to be mP °^ m n, * in addition to Food and -p , Persons requiring description of Trade, employed. •„ §uara, n ee Lodgings, to the satisfaction Immigrants. &c. uglified of Government. John Smith, 1 rough carpenter. Kojonup. n £2 5 0 Farmer, 2 shepherds. Do. une ye,ar.' £2 0 0 Albany. 1 house servant. Albany. certain. £1 lg Q

" "We are satisfied that the publication of the fact that the Government of Western Australia is employing the public revenue for the introduction of natives of China to occupy the various avenues of labour —a course never at any time adopted by any of the colonies under parliamentary government— will create throughout the rest of Australasia a strong feeling of public disapprobation. The objection to the Chinese is not altogether one of prejudice of colour or race, but is founded in a rational view of the dangers to these British communities which might in the course of time flow from a people numbering more than 400,000,000, whose language, laws, religion, and habits of life are alien to those of Her Majesty's subjects in Australasia, and whose geographical position makes the danger more imminent. " If Western Australia persists in her policy it cannot fail to engender among the people of the other colonies a sense of public injury and of resentment, and it is almost certain to lead to the enactment of laws imposing restrictions on communication between her ports and the other Australasian ports. It cannot be expected that the people who object to receiving Chinese immigrants direct from China will submit to their arrival by way of Western Australia. At a time when a disposition is growing up in the colonies to draw more closely together the ties of political relationship, it is a matter for deep regret that the smallest colony of the group should take a course so calculated to cut her off from popular sympathy, and to isolate her in her colonizing progress. " We desire to urge upon your Lordship that the action of the Government of Western Australia cannot be regarded as other than opposed to the common interest in the social advancement of these colonies, and that, if it be continued, it must be attended by consequences which it is highly desirable to avoid; and we join in an earnest hope that Her Majesty's Government will take such steps as may be deemed expedient to procure its reversal. " We have the honor to remain, " Your Lordship's faithful and obedient servants." It was agreed upon that Sir Henry Parkes should sign this document as Chairman of the Conference, and that the representatives present should afterwards sign according to the population of their respective colonies. INTEKCOLONIAL LEGISLATION. Mr. Vale brought up the following reports of the Legal Committee appointed to revise certain draft Bills which had been laid before the Conference, viz. j—.