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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.