9

A.—6

After considering the Bill clause by clause, and making certain amendments, it was adopted. Tasmania voted against the Bill. Western Australia did not vote. The Conference next proceeded to the consideration of the proposed representation to be made to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as drawn up by the Committee, when it was agreed to, with amendments. A telegram from Sir Thomas Mcllwraith, Premier of Queensland, to the Hon. J. M. Macrossan, on the subject of Lord Knutsford's circular telegram to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies, was then read, as follows : " Brisbane, 14th June, 1888.—Cabinet have considered confidential telegram from Lord Knutsford, and unanimously disapprove of his suggestion to place all foreign labourers on the same footing, with power to relax the regulations in certain cases." The Hon. Alfred Deacon proposed, and the Hon. J. M. Macrossan seconded, the following resolution : " That the Governments of the Colonies represented at the Conference, with the exception of the Governments of New South Wales and Western Australia, undertake to introduce to their respective Parliaments measures which shall, while providing for the particular local circumstances of each colony, approach as closely as possible to the draft Bill which has been adopted by the Conference, and shall contain nothing inconsistent therewith," which was carried upon the following division : Ayes — Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia; No — Tasmania. The representatives of New South Wales at the Conference desired to place the following memorandum on record: "We the undersigned representatives of New South Wales at the Conference of the Australasian Colonies on the Chinese question, being unablo to join in the last preceding resolution, in consequence of legislation now before Parliament, do hereby concur in and agree to the policy embodied therein ; and, so soon as two or more of the other colonies have passed into law the typical or uniform Bill agreed upon by the Conference, we further agree to take the necessary steps to bring the law of New South Wales into strict harmony with those of the other colonies, reserving to New South Wales, however, the right of any variations or additions not inconsistent with the main principles of agreement.—Henky Pakkes, J. F. Buens." The Hon. Sir Malcolm Eraser also desired to place on record the following memorandum: " Sir Malcolm Fraser could engage that the Bill should be laid before the Legislative Council of Western Australia, but could not state what action the Government of that colony would take in regard to it." The Hon. Phillip 0. Fysh also desired to place on record the following memorandum : " 14th July, 1888.—Tasmania dissents from the decision of the Conference ' That further restriction of Chinese immigration is essential to the welfare of the people of Australasia,' because the vigorous legislative action of the colonies has already proved successful in limiting the number of Chinese immigrants—a fact which is established by statistics and admitted in the Ministerial memorandum of Victoria upon this subject, despatched in March last; also, from the engagement by the Government to secure, if practicable, the early passage of a measure similar to the draft Bill through their respective Parliaments without waiting the result of the representations made by cable to the Home authorities, as being inconsistent with the request made by the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania, for Home Government intervention in the matter which this Bill proposes to dispose of, and because, all that need be desired may be accomplished by treaty, while drastic legislation, if preceding diplomatic efforts, may prove embarrassing, and engender international bitterness; and because convinced that upon occasions when the insular interests of the colonies can be secured in connection only with those which are Imperial, it behoves these colonies to remember that their preservation is maintained by British forces, and that Colonial Acts must be justified by the Home Government. Tasmania dissents from the main purposes of the draft Bill because no exception is made which would enable Chinese residents to improve their social condition by the introduction of their wives. It ignores the rights of such naturalised British subjects as may be at present absent from the colonies who have children in the colonies born of British wives, and have accumulated property under the sanction of colonial laws. It makes no exception in favour of Chinese born under English rule in Hongkong and elsewhere. It disregards the climatic characteristics of the northern territories of Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, which are a barrier to successful occupation, except in pursuit of avocations peculiarly tropical, and. unsuitable to European labour.—P. O. Eysh." The Hon. Phillip Oakley Eysh proposed, and the Hon. John M. Macrossan seconded, the following resolution, which was unanimously agreed to : " That the record of the proceedings of the Conference be communicated by the President to the representative deputed by New Zealand to attend this Conference on his arrival, and that, in the event of the concurrence of the Governor or that of the representative of New Zealand being obtained, the President be requested to communicate the fact to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, through his Excellency the Governor." The Hon. Thomas Playford, with the consent of tho Conference, withdrew the resolution No. 5, of which notice had been given by him yesterday. The Hon. Duncan Gillies then proposed, and the Hon. Phillip Oakley Eysh seconded, the following resolution : " That the President of the Conference be instructed to request His Excellency the Governor to transmit the joint representation adopted by the Conference to the Secretary of State for the Colonies," which was unanimously agreed to. The Hon. Sir Malcolm Fraser proposed, and the Hon. Thomas Playford seconded, the following resolution: "That the substance of the joint representation be transmitted to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies," which was unanimously agreed to. The Hon. Thomas Playford proposed, and the Hon. Duncan Gillies seconded, the following resolution: "That the thanks of the Conference be given to Sir Henry Parkes, G.C.M.G., for the great services he has rendered in the important position he has occupied as President of the Conference," which was unanimously carried. 2—A. 6.