CITIZEN RIGHTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1155, 16 June 1911, Page 5

CITIZEN RIGHTS.

—* IMPERIAL CONFERENCE DEBATE. 11 DETAILS OF MR. CHURCHILL'S SCHEME. 0 ' ' A WAY TO UNIFORMITY. i : 5 Br Telegraph—l'ress Association—CoDrrlffhi. 1 London, June 11. At the Imperial Conference, Mr. ; Churchill, Home Secretary, dealing with 1 Mr. Batchelor's motion— I That, so far as consistent with tho law ami conditions obtaining therein, [ each part of the British Empire should make provision to facilitate the naturalisation of persons who have been admitted to naturalisation in any other part of the Empire, said that the matter of uniformity was important. It would be a great advan- ! tage if they could remedy the present ini conveniences. However, any system ; must be based on the assent of local Parliaments. The draft Bill must not be regarded as final or perfect; it was simply a peg to hang discussion on. Each Dominion must judge of its own conditions under tho certificates granted. If effect were given to the wishes expressed, they must face two standards of naturalisation—local and Imperial. Britain could no*fc depart from tho five years' qualifying period suggested, but any person obtaining a Dominion certificate could apply for an Imperial certificate. It would thus be possible to allow existing diversities to continue, and it would be competent for the Dominions to legislate to prevent an Imperial certificate issuing where naturalisation had been refused in a particular Dominion. He suggested:— 1. That Imperial Nationality should be world-wide and uniform, each Dominion remaining free to grant local certificates on its own lines. 2. That while the Mother Country finds it nccessary to maintain tho fivo years' qualifying period, a five years' period anywhere within the Empire should be equivalent to fivo years in the United Kingdom. 3. The granting of Imperial Nationality in every ease to be discretionary, this discretion to be exercised by those responsible in the area where the applicant spent the last twelve months. 4. Thaf tho Imperial Act should be so framed as to enable the Dominions to adopt it. 5. That nothing now proposed shall affect tho validity or effectiveness of local laws regulating immigration or differentiating between any classes of British subjects. Mr. Churchill added:—"The suggested Bill will be re-drafted according to the above suggestions, and submitted for consideration as soon as possible." Dr. Findlay said some needless duplication in regard to local and Imperial applications might be avoided by Imperial statute. It would then be open to tho Dominions to adopt them or not. Jfr. Batchelor said Mr. Churchill's suggestions overcame most of the difficulties. It would bo convenient to set up an Imperial standard. Mr. Churchill moved his suggestions as a resolution, and the motion was carried. Accident Compensation. Sir Joseph Ward moved--That it is in tho best interests of

the Empire that there should ho more uniformity throughout its centres and dependencies in tlio law of . . . accideut compensation. ■ The motion was adopted. Removal of Aliens. Mr. Churchill mofed— That where aliens are deported from any Dominion to another, it is desirable that some system be devised by which the Government concerned may effectively co-operate in measures for the final disposition of such aliens. This was adopted. The King's Birthday. The Conference agreed that the King's Birthday should be celebrated throughout the Empire on June 3. There was discussion on the question, of Empire Day, but no decision was reached. The Conference adjourned till Thursday.