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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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has been done in regard to both those matters. And we could also at the same time take up these subsidiary questions: Army and Navy Supply and Contracts, to be raised by the Government of the Commonwealth, and the Com- missions in the Army and the Navy, to be raised by the Government of New Zealand. That would make one meeting at a later date, when these private Conferences have been completed: Then we have to consider the motion of the Government of New Zealand with regard to periodical Conferences. I do not think that this will take very long, and there are several other miscel- laneous matters, as for instance, the mutual protection of patents, uniform laws with regard to the merchant shipping, imperial stamp charges on Colonial bonds, ocean cables, which might be taken at the same time, and I would suggest that those should be the subject of our discussion on Wednesday next, if that is convenient. Then there is a matter which concerns only the Commonwealth and New Zealand, namely, the relations with the Islands of the Pacific. I should like to make an arrangement with Sir Edmund Barton and Mr. Seddon at sometime convenient to them, when we could discuss the matter. We will deal with it by ourselves of course. On Wednesday we take up the question of periodical Conferences, and the minor matters which are down on the paper.

Mr. SEDDON: Will the Secretary of State for War for a moment just think over this phase of the question, that I suggested about the payment, when if entirely at the call of the Imperial Government for service anywhere, that in that case the Imperial Government will be prepared to pay some of the cost. If that control is left entirely to the Colonial Government then the Colonial Government should do it. What I suggest, and you may take that from me, is that we should agree beforehand as to a given limit within which the men in the reserve would be called upon to serve,

The SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR: That is a point I think and I had better talk out together.

you

Mr. SEDDON: Fix the given limit beforehand, and after that we fix that limit, then the other question could be considered.

*

Adjourned till Wednesday next at 11 a.m.

SIXTH DAY.

Wednesday, July 30th, 1902.

PRESENT:

The Right Honourable J. CHAMBERLAIN, M.P., His Majesty's

Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The Right Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier, G.C.M.G., Premier of

Canada.

The Right Honourable Sir EDMUND BARTON, G.C.M.G., D.C.L, Premier of

Australia.

The Right Honourable R. J. SEDDON, Premier of New Zealand.

The Honourable THOS. EKIN FULLER, for the Right Honourable Sir

J. GORDON SPRIGG, G.C.M.G., Premier of Cape Colony.

The Right Honourable Sir ALBERT HIME, K.C.M.G., Premier of Natal. The Right Honourable Sir ROBERT BOND, K.C.M.G., Premier of

Newfoundland.

:

The EARL OF ONSLOW, G.C.M.G., Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

for the Colonies.

Sir M. F. OMMANNEY, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., Permanent Under-Secretary of

State for the Colonies.

Sir JOHN ANDERSON, K.C.M.G., Secretary.

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PRESENT ALSO :—---`

Rear-Admiral R.N. CUSTANCE} For the Admiralty.

Captain JACKSON

Mr. BERTRAM Cox, Assistant Under-Secretary to the Colonial Office. The Honourable W. S. FIELDING, Minister of Finance for the Dominion

of Canada.

The Honourable Sir FREDERICK BORDEN, K.C.M.G., Minister of Militia

and Defence for the Dominion of Canada.

The Honourable W. PATERSON, Minister of Customs for the Dominion of

Canada,

The SECRETARY OF STATE: I think to-day the first subject we intend to deal with is the motion of Mr. Seddon with regard to further meetings or periodical meetings of the Conference.

Mr. SEDDON: Might I, Mr. Chairman, in this case as I think there is unanimity amongst the Prime Ministers, move the resolution, with a slight amendment, putting it that there should be meetings at intervals not greater than three years.

I propose to make a small alteration, so to give effect

to the holding of a Conference, say, every three years. I propose to amend the resolution in that direction.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER: Before we commit ourselves I have a few observations to make. For my part I am very strongly impressed with the usefulness of such Conferences which are taking place now and which will take place again. I am not quite sure, however, that it would be to the best advantage and that the best result would be obtained to have these Con- ferences at a particular time. I am sure if we were to do that we would The Con- raise expectations which it would be hardly possible to fulfill. ferences which have taken place have shown that while there is a very strong feeling of sentiment in favour of unity, at the same time on matters and questions which have been discussed there have been divergencies of opinion, and it is hardly possible to reconcile those divergencies, and I would be afraid if you were to have those Conferences periodically, and at fixed periods every three or four years, that thereby you would raise expectations in the mind of the public which I am afraid would lead to disappointment. I submit, as my own observation-as a suggestion at all events to be considered preferable-to affirm the principle that there should be Conferences, leaving it to the Colonial Office to fix the time after consulting the various Colonies as to the time of meeting, and I think perhaps also as to the place of meeting. In that way a good deal of inconvenience would be avoided. For instance, if you say there is to be a conference every three years, at a fixed period, it might interfere in many of the Colonies with business which cannot be avoided.

It might interfere with a general election for instance. All the Parliaments are elected for a fixed period; they cannot last longer than a certain time, and it might be the very day, the very year, in which you would have the con- ference; it might be for New Zealand, Canada, or anywhere else, a general election which would make it impossible for the Ministers interested to be present at the. Conference. If there were questions of pressing necessity, we might be called or summoned, the initiative to be left in the hands of the Colonial Office. If on the other hand there was no pressing necessity, I should say I would not fix the date; three years seems to be rather too short a period in any event.

“

Mr. SEDDON: I have no objection to that suggestion myself; at all events it should not be a longer period than three years.

Sir ALBERT HIME: Strike out the word "triennial " and substitute periodical."

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