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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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beyond the Seas would stimulate and facilitate mutual commercial intercourse, and would, by promoting the development of the resources and industries of the several parts, strengthen the Empire.

2. That this Conference recognises that, in the present cireum- stances of the Colonies, it is not practicable to adopt a gehefal system " of Free Trade as between the Mother Country and the British

Dominions beyond the Seas.

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3. That with a view, however, to promoting the increase of trade "within the Empire, it is desirable that those Colonies which have not already adopted such a policy should, as far as their circumstances permit, give substantial proferential treatment to the products and manufactures of the United Kingdom,

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4: That the Prime Ministers of the Colonies respectively urge on His Majesty's Government the expediency of granting in the "United Kingdom preferential treatment to the products and "manufactures of the Colonies either by exemption from or reduction "of duties now or hereafter imposed.

5. That the Prime Ministers present at the Conference undertake to submit to their respective Goverments at the earliest opportunity the principle of the resolution and to request them to take "such measures as may be necessary to give effect to it."

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[The resolution was unanimously adopted.]

FIJI.

Mr. SEDDON: I desire to propose a motion, Sir. The question of Fiji is a matter that ought to come before the Conference, and, after consultation with my colleagues about this matter, and with Sir Edmund Barton, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, who was also present, we could get no nearer to agreement than the following:

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That inquiry should be made by His Majesty's Government into the conditions of the natives of Fiji as to whether any modification ** or extention of the prescut system of Government would be better

adapted to the requirements of the island."

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It is quite true that, as far as the trade of Fiji is concerned, only Australia and New Zealand are partially, or at least, largely interested. Canada is also slightly interested because the Vancouver boats which trade now between Canada and Australia call in at Fiji, au consequently they are directly interested in the promotion of the well-being of the inhabitants and the development of the island. There is nothing in the resolution to which, I think, objection should be taken. As a matter of fact the natives are dying off. There is a falling off of 10,000, notwithstanding the natural increase during the last 10 years. There are fewer white people on the island than there were 20 years ago. There are signs of falling off in the natives, and there is no increase in the number of white inhabitants. There is a large coolie population which remain there contrary to the terms upon which they are imported, namely, that they should be temporarily brought from India there, and then sent back to ludia. Now, they are settling upon the island, and Fiji at the present moment is simply a country for that company that is there growing sugar by coolie labour, and the condition of things is such that every member of the Conference should take an interest. in saving a race of people such as the Fijians who have really ceded their country to us. There was no conflict, they ceded this country to. us, and we should all endeavour to see what can be done. I am not finding any fault; I am not blaming anyone but there is a necessity for inquiry because they are dying off.

And then as to the Crown Colony system; whether that is necessary to be continued; that is another matter, but all I am asking is for inquiry to see whether there might not be introduced there

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modification of the Crown Colony system which obtains in other Crown Colonies, This is entirely a Crown Colony governed by officials nominated. by the Governinont of the day. In some of the Crown Cokmies they have the elective principle; in other Crown Colonies they havo gentlemen who hold representative positions, and I suggest in the latter part of my resolution whether under the existing circumstances there might not be a modification: If continued as a Crown Colony might there not be a Minister either from Australia or from New Zealand. I do not wish to raise the question; Í thought the best thing to do was to have an inquiry, and I say here advisedly to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that unless something is done in the way of inquiry, if things continue as they are there, it will mean a very serious matter. There is a feeling of unrest and anxiety at the condition of things which is now existing, and it is with the view of aiding and improving, and I think the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Home Office would be only too delighted to do anything that would improve the condition of things in Fiji. I think, therefore, there will be no objection to the motion.

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The SECRETARY OF STATE: I have not liked to interrupt Mr. Seddon, it would have been discourteous to him, but I was under the impres- sion that he had recognised the suggestion which I had made to him that this was a matter which it concerned anybody, concerned the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of Now Zealand and the Imperial Govern- ment, and accordingly I urged that he should discuss the matter with Sir Edmund Barton and Lord Onslow. A discussion has been held and a minute of the discussion has been made, a copy of which of course will be placed in the possession of the representatives of the Commonwealth, and of New Zealand. It is not a matter I think that ought to have been

of brought before this Conference. In private very glad indeed to have any suggestions which Mr. Seddon or any other Prime Minister may make to us as to our adtainistration. other parts of His Majesty's Dominions, but hoaring, as we have done in the course of these discussions, so much of the very natural desire of the Colonists to be left to the spontaneous development of their own Institu- tions, I confess I am rather surprised Mr. Seddon should come hore and propose to inquire into the administration by the Colonial Office of a Colony which belongs to His Majesty's Government. Suppose that I were to urge that I have reason to believe that up to a very recent period the aborigines in New Zealand were dying off in large numbers, and that an inquiry should therefore be made into the condition of the Maoris and the recent alteration which has been made in the land legislation affecting them. Let me say, in order that I may not be misunderstood, that I believe that legislation has been extremely wise, and that the condition of the Maoris at the present time is a most satisfactory one, but if I had any doubt upon it, and had come down to this Conference to propose an inquiry, I am sure Mr. Seddon would have told me that that was not a matter which he considered should be dealt with by a Conference of this kind. Every part of His Majesty's Dominions and overy Colony hero represented has to deal with natives, and we have all of us I think found it a very difficult task. At the same time, I believe we are all imbued with a due sense of responsibility, and I think it must be left to each of us to do as well as we can in our own positions.

I must say one other word. It shows the inconvenience of a thing of this kind that Mr. Seddon, acting upon a very imperfect information, has made a statement that the Colony of Fiji as I understood him is being managed for the bonefit of a Company. Well, I am not going into a controversy, because I hold it is not my duty to do so here, but I must say in the strongest possible terms that I cannot accept a statement of that kind, which, of course, would be most injurious to the reputation of His Majesty's Govern- mont of Fiji. I really assure my friond, Mr. Seddon, that it has absolutely no foundation.

Mr. SEDDON: In that case I may say that I probably ought to have made it clear that in respect of the products of the island outside sugar there was no increase. The only increase shown at all by the improved condition of

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