176

A—s

Islands to have them back, and good for their people that they should return and live among them. For ourselves, we will have a white Australia, cost us what it may. We are anxious to let everyone know it. CHAIRMAN : There is one resolution before the Conference proposed by the Commonwealth. We agree to the first part. I think, as far as my colleague and I are concerned, we are quite prepared to accept the second. Mr. F. R. MOOR : If I may be allowed to interrupt, I think it would, perhaps, be better if that second part was more elaborated in the direction that Mr. Deakin pointed out, so that the public should realise what the resolution really means. Towards the end of Mr. Deakin's exposition of what they did mean, he pointed out the value of co-operation as regards shipping and reduction of freights.* I think if one or two indications were just enumerated in that resolution it would be of great use. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Surely that is a matter to come up later on in connection with trade. I would not mix them. CHAIRMAN : I think it would be a little difficult to take it up now. Mr. F. R. MOOR : I am in the hands of the Conference, but it seems a pity that the public should not know what is meant, even if it is only one or two headings of what we intend by the co-operation. Sir JOSEPH WARD : For myself I would support the resolution as a whole. I see no objection whatever to it upon the understanding that so far as the second paragraph is concerned —having reference to New Zealand alone, for which I am speaking—that the co-operation would be upon application from a Colony. Mr. DEAKIN : Necessarily. There must be two people to co-operate. If New Zealand does not co-operate, plainly it does not desire it. Sir JOSEPH WARD : There is one Colony here suggesting co-opera-tion, and the other side is the Mother Country. Mr. DEAKIN : " That any Colonies desiring." Sir JOSEPH WARD : " Be requested to co-operate with any Colonies " desiring to co-operate." The understanding is, we have first to express our wish to co-operate. Dr. JAMESON : What it means, after Mr. Burns's speech, is, that this co-operation is limited to good wishes. Mr. BURNS : And methods affecting the distribution of information. Dr. JAMESON : And the Board of Emigration reorganisation is under consideration at the present moment, CHAIRMAN : That is in the report of the Committee. Dr. JAMESON : With regard to the subsidising of ships, I understand Mr. Burns to say that Parliament has set its face against anything of the kind.

Sixth Day. 25 April 1907.

Emigration (Mr. Deakin.;