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Hon. Dr Cockburn (South Australia) If Mr Wynne will move that, I will withdraw my proposition. The motion was, with the leave of the Conference, withdrawn. Hon. Mr Wilson (Queensland) I have prepared a resolution which would be taken as an amendment if Dr Cockburn had pressed his. It is, " That it is desirable, in the public interests, that the hour-zone system should be adopted as far as practicable in Australasia, that the mean time be the 120 th meridian in Western Australia, 135 in South Australia, 150 in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, and 175 in New Zealand." The matter has been very carefully considered by the Government of Queensland, who had to send forward the resolution come to at the last Brisbane Conference, and Sir Thomas Mcllwraith prepared an elaborate paper upon the subject, which I have already laid upon the table. That paper contains the arguments as far as Queensland is concerned. We came to the conclusion that we could not agree to the resolution as passed at the Brisbane Conference, the reasons for which have been stated. So far as Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania are concerned, I think the 150 th meridian would suit exactly The time would be very little different from the mean time, and would do no violence to public opinion. I shall therefore move the resolution I have read. I may state also that I have prepared a Bill to lay upon the table next session in the terms of the resolution—that is, so far as Queensland is concerned. I shall be very happy to let any of the delegates who wish have a copy of that Bill, in order that similar legislation should pass in the other colonies simultaneously Hon. Mr Ward (New Zealand) lam very pleased to see there is a prospect of uniformity being arrived at in the colonies. It is very satisfactory indeed, and I compliment Sir Charles Todd on the result of his efforts. I second the motion. Then, the resolution of the Hon. Mr. Wilson (Queensland) having been put, it was resolved in the affirmative. Resolved, That it is desirable, in the public interests, that the hour-zone system should be adopted as far as practicable in Australasia, that the mean time be the 120 th meridian in Western Australia, 135 in South Australia, 150 in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, and 175 in New Zealand. PAPER. Hon. Dr. Cockburn (South Australia) laid upon the table the referrendum of minutes by Sir Charles Todd on the hour-zone time system. (Appendix I, p. xliv.) RACING LOTTERIES. Subject No. 39 • Eegistered letters for promoters of racing lotteries Should obstacles be placed in the way of registration ? The paragraph relating thereto having been read, Hon. Mr Kidd (New South Wales) said, —I do not know how New Zealand stands with regard to this, but Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia have not only passed legislation to prevent the carrying of letters for the promotion of sweeps, but we have put the law into force. In fact, I cannot understand any colony passing any legislation, knowing the other colonies had already done so, in order to put down gambling as much as possible, and then sheltering themselves behind a resolution of the House, as Queensland has done. We all know resolutions of the House cannot take the place of an Act of Parliament, and the sooner they follow up that resolution in the Queensland House of Parliament by repealing the Act the better. Of course, Ido not want to imply that it is for the sake of the money for postage that they do this, they have to say what it is themselves , but it does seem a very improper thing, after having legislation, and after all the other colonies have fallen into line, that Queensland should do nothing. It was found that New South Wales was the great centre of all these sweep operations. They passed legislation, and abolished them. After that they went to Queensland to shelter themselves. I do not think it is for the credit of the colony lam sure the Hon. Mr Wilson will admit that it is a bit of sharp practice to pass such legislation as this, and, as soon as they had passed it and carried it into force, wink at it by saying, "We will get a resolution passed setting that aside." I think the Hon. Mr Wilson ought to make a promise of one of two things—that is, not to shelter themselves behind a resolution of the House, or to say he does not agree with the Act, that he will encourage the operations of sweeps, and that he is going to ask his Parliament to repeal the Act. If he will do that I will forgive him. It is a proper position to take up to say we are going in for uniformity No one can but regret the enormous evil that is wrought by the gambling spirit of the colonies, and we should endeavour to keep it down. I do not think it right for one colony to take advantage of another My predecessor did not care to do anything, but he took a proper course—he believed in the use of the Post Office for circulating letters in connection with sweeps , he did not see any harm in it. That was a proper attitude. I believed differently myself, and as soon as I came into office I kept the promise made, on the representation of the Victorian Government, and introduced a Bill as speedily as possible, and successfully passed it without any difficulty at all. If I had not carried out the law I should, I think, have been very much to blame, especially after Victoria had had the courage to pass the Act to prevent the Post Office being used for the purpose. I hope the honourable gentleman will be able to give me a promise Hon. Dr. Cockburn (South Australia) I cordially indorse what has fallen from the previous speaker in regard to the general question. Of course, in regard to what has passed between the Governments of Queensland and New South Wales, I shall not dream of expressing an opinion. But I do think every Government should do all in its power to stop not only the registration of these letters, but even their transmission. If we could strengthen one another's hands, I think each of us, in our own colonies, would be able to act to better advantage in stopping this practice. I hope Mr Kidd will move an amendment, and I suggest something to this effect " That representations be sent from this Conference recommending our Governments, as far as possible, to put a stop to the transmission of letters for racing purposes." If you do so, I am sure there can be only one opinion. I cannot understand any objection to the general principle, but I think the