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8 June, 1911.] Standing Committee. \hth Day. Mr. BATCHELOR : T think it would have some distinct advantages. Some of the smaller matters which this Conference has not time to thrash out properly might be discussed at such a Conference, at the unanimous desire of the Dominions concerned. It is a proposition we ought to accept very readily, I think. General BOTHA : I only want to say that I do not see any very great advantage in accepting this, and we feel that the system ought to remain more or less the same. My Government has brought up one point in connection with this matter on the Agenda, and that is, that the work of the Dominions should be brought under the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I have already intimated that I did not intend to press this point after having heard what Mr. Asquith said about it a few days ago, explaining how impossible it would be for the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to undertake the additional work which this would involve. Besides, 1 feel the force of the argument , that it would be very inconvenient in South Africa if the Union were to deal through the Prime Minister and the territories through the Colonial Office. With regard to this proposal, I am not in favour of accepting it as it stands. If we leave in the words " The High Commissioner or other representative," we shall find one Dominion appointing its High Commissioner and another might make it a post for some political man whom it might be convenient to get out of the way. The CHAIRMAN : I suggested withdrawing the words : " High Commissioner," and merely leaving it " a representative," and that would, of course, leave it open to any Dominion to choose any person it liked. General BOTHA : I understand that Sir Joseph has suggested doing away with the mention of the High Commissioner altogether; but if you do that, again you place the Dominions in absolutely the same position. The one Dominion will say : " My High Commissioner must act," and the other Dominion will say : " No, I am going to send another man, so as to get him away." Mr. FISHER : You would surely never do that ? General BOTHA : I only say what could be done; and the object of the Conference is to get uniformity. Sir JOSEPH WARD ; Uniformity of action and uniformity of decision. General BOTHA : You want the same class of man, and if one Dominion sends a Minister here and the other an official or its High Commisioner, you will very soon have a rupture between the Ministers and the other men. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Speaking for New Zealand, we could not spare a Minister to attend those Conferences here at shorter intervals than at present; and I do not think any Dominion could. General BOTHA : Then you could send another political man. I think the object is either to get the High Commissioner in, or some other person; but every Dominion ought to send more or less the same class of man or men of the same standing, otherwise the thing will not work. If the one man has a very much higher standing here than the other, I do not think that will lead to uniformity. Sir JOSEPH WARD : There is no voting, of course. General BOTHA : Then, also, what will be the position of this Committee at the next Conference? Will they be allowed to attend the next Conference of Prime Ministers ? What would be their position—will they be able to come and sit here and listen to what is going on, or will they be kept away from the Conference ?