A.—s

602

committed by any arrangements come to by this country in regard to wireless telegraphy until they had had an opportunity of seeing how the convention worked out after it was discussed, considered, and ratified. They would have full power then to come in at any moment, or to go out again if they liked on a year's notice. Therefore, with regard to the Colonies, there was no question about their having a vote at the Conference which took place last October. As regards future Conferences, the question was raised as to the method of representation of the various Colonies and the votes they should have, and. how they should be enabled to join in future Conferences. There were two precedents : one is the International Telegraph Convention, under which any country can practically say that it desires a vote for this Colony or the other Colony so long as they have separate telegraph administrations. The other system it that of the Postal Union, under which each country, according to the importance of its Colonies, is allowed so many votes. It was a question really which of those two precedents, that of the Telegraph Convention or that of the Postal Convention, was the best for our purpose. The Conference finally-decided they would follow the Postal Union rather than the Telegraph Convention, on the ground that that enables the Conference to allot votes to the Colonies according to their importance, and does not enable a country to claim any number of votes for, perhaps, minute Colonies of no importance, simply because they happen to have a separate telegraph administration. The article passed by the Conference the other day fixes for any country and its Colonies a maximum of six votes. No country need have six votes, but that is the maximum. That is the principle of the Postal Union which has been in existence for many years, and has worked very satisfactorily. Under it, I may say, at the present moment India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa each have a vote. Mr. DEAKIN : It might be presumed, then, at the next Conference that each of the six, if adhering, would be entitled to a vote. Mr. BUXTON : Not "entitled"; that is to say, there is no obligation on the Conference to allot votes, or to allot any particular number of votes. It is a question of discussion as between the different countries, those interested in Colonies and having Colonies. I do not think there is any auestion about it that the precedent of the Postal Union will be taken, and these five votes in addition to one for Great Britain will unquestionably be given. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Who would settle that ? Mr. BUXTON : It will be settled by the next Conference. Meanwhile, before the next Conference, which is five years hence, the country proposing to suggest Colonial votes for its Colonies makes the suggestion to the various countries concerned. Any other country may then make suggestions, and what we have had in mind in reference to the matter is that sometime before the next Conference takes place, we should communicate in a friendly way with, at all events, the important countries concerned to discuss what number of votes should be allotted and how allotted. I should like to add that, on the motion of the British delegates, it was decided by the Conference that that should be the first business of the next Conference, and that, therefore, any votes allotted will come into force at the beginning of the Conference, so they will have the full power of voting from the beginning of the new Conference.

Fifteenth Day. 14 May 1907.

Wireless Telegraphy. (Mr. Buxton.)