A.—6

8

colony to another without payment of poll-tax be made a misdemeanour; (5) that no Chinese now in Australasia be rendered liable to any payment or penalty other than is provided by existing regulations." It was then resolved, unanimously, that voting should be by colonies. The Council adjourned at 4.20 until to-morrow at 9.30 a.m.

At the Executive Council Chambeb, Sydney, 13th June, 1888. Present: —New South Wales : The Hon. Sir Henry Parkes, G.C.M.G., M.P.; the Hon. John Fitzgerald Burns, M.P. Victoria: The Hon. Duncan Gillies, M.P.; the Hon. Alfred Deakin, M.P. South Australia: The Hon. Thomas Playford, M.P.; the Hon. Charles Cameron Kingston, Q.C., M.P. Queensland : The Hon. John Murtagh Macrossan, M.P. Western Australia: The Hon. Sir Malcolm Fraser, K.C.M.G., M.L.C. Tasmania : The Hon. Phillip Oakley Fysh, M.L.C. The Conference having assembled at 9.30 a.m., the minutes of yesterday's proceedings were read and confirmed. The Hon. Thomas Playford then brought before the Conference the resolutions of which he had given notice, as follows : —" 1. That, in the opinion of this Conference, the further restriction of Chinese immigration is essential to the welfare of the people of Australasia. 2. That this Conference is further of opinion that the necessary restriction can best be secured through the diplomatic action of the Mother-country, and by uniform Australasian legislation. 3. That this Conference resolves to consider a joint representation to the Imperial Government for the purpose of obtaining the desired diplomatic action. 4. That this Conference resolves to consider a draft Bill as the basis of the legislation referred to. 5. That a Committee, to consist of ,be appointed to prepare the form of representation, and draft Bill. 6. That the Committee to prepare the draft Bill be instructed as follows : (1) That this Bill shall apply to all Chinese ; (2) that the restriction shall be by way of poll-tax and by limitation of the number of Chinese which any vessel may bring into an Australasian port; (3) that the poll-tax be £30 per head, and the limitation one Chinese to every 200 tons; (4) that the influx of Chinese from one colony to another without payment -of poll-tax be made a misdemeanour; (5) that no Chinese now in Australasia be rendered liable to any payment or penalty other than is provided by existing regulations."—And moved the first resolution, which was carried on the following division: Ayes —New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland ; No—Tasmania; Western Australia did not vote. The Hon. Thomas Playford then moved the second resolution, as amended, viz. : "That this Conference is of opinion thatjthe necessary restriction can best be secured through the diplomatic action of the Imperial Government and by uniform Australasian legislation," which was carried unanimously. The Hon. Thomas Playford also moved the third resolution, which was carried unanimously. The Hon. Thomas Playford then moved the following resolution in lieu of No. 6 : "That this Conference is of opinion that the desired Australasian legislation should contain the following provisions : (1) That it shall apply to all Chinese, with specified exceptions." Carried. The Hon. Thomas Playford then moved the following resolution (No. 2) : "That the restriction should be by way of poll-tax and by limitation of the number of Chinese which any vessel may bring into an Australasian port." Upon which the Hon. Duncan Gillies moved an amendment as follows : "That all the words after the word ' be ' in the first line be omitted, with a view to the insertion of the following words : ' By limitation of the number of Chinese which any vessel may bring into any Australasian port to one Chinese to every 500 tons of the ship's burthen.' " The President then put the following motion : " That the words proposed to be omitted standpart of the question," when it was negatived on the following division: Ayes—South Australia, Queensland ; Noes —New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania ; Western Australia did not vote. The amendment was then put and carried upon the following division: Ayes —New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland; No—Tasmania ; Western Australia did not vote. The Hon. Thomas Playford withdrew No. 3 of the resolutions. The Hon. Thomas Playford proposed No. 4, as follows : " That the influx of Chinese from one colony to another, without consent of the colony which they enter, be made a misdemeanour," which was carried. The Hon. Thomas Playford asked leave to postpone No. 5, which was granted. A Committee was then appointed, consisting of the Hon. Alfred Deakin, the Hon. Charles Cameron Kingston, and the Hon. John Murtagh Macrossan, to frame and bring up the form of representation and draft Bill referred to. The Conference then adjourned until to-morrow at 9.30 a.m.

At the Executive Council Chambbb, Sydney, 14th June, 1888. Present: —New South Wales : The Hon. Sir Henry Parkes, K.C.M.G., M.P.; the Hon. John Fitzgerald Burns, M.P. Victoria : The Hon. Duncan Gillies, M.P.; the Hon. Alfred Deacon, M.P. South Australia: The Hon. Thomas Playford, M.P.; the Hon. Charles Cameron Kingston, Q.C., M.P. Queensland : The Hon. John Murtagh Macrossan, M.P. Western Australia: The Hon. Sir Malcolm Fraser, K.C.M.G., M.L.C. Tasmania : the Hon. Phillip Oakley Fysh, M.L.C. The Conference having assembled at 9.30 a.m., the minutes of the proceedings on the 13th instant were read and confirmed. The Committee appointed to frame the form of representation to the Imperial Government and the draft Bill laid the same on the table, when they were read, and the Conference went into Committee on the Bill.