IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1926, Page 4

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

STATEMENT BY PREMIER. WELLIN' G TON, Aug. 18. In the House last evening the Rt. Hon. the Premier, referring to the Imperial Conference said :—I desire to say the opening of tlie Imperial Conference now has been definitely fixed for October 19t1i., and I desire to take the opportunity of placing before the House information at present available as to matters that will probably be tlie subject of discussion at tlie Conference. In addition to various questions of defence and of foreign and inter-Imperial relations, subjects at present listed are as follows:

(1) Overseas settlement—(a) Establishment of closer relations with dominion Governments and adoption of further measures for encouragement of overseas settlement, (b) Standardisation of schemes of social insurance, including the effect of such schemes on migration, (c) Workmen's compensation insofar as it affects migration, including the question of reciprocal arrangements for tlie administration of awards.

(2) Inter-Imperial trade—(a) A general review of inter-Imperial trade, present and future. (1>) Discussion of tlie work of the Imperial Economic Committee and the position of the Empire Marketing Board, (c) Tlie valuation for Customs duty purposes of goods which have received drawback of Customs or excise duties on exportation from another part of the Empire, (d) The area of taxation in case of nonresident traders, (e) Industrial standardisation and its bearing on trade development, (f) Tlie general Economic Conference called by the League of Nations.

(3) Communications—(a) Tlie progress report of the' Imperial Shipping Committee. (l>) Economic defence in matters of Hag discrimination, (e) Tho question of adherence to the Brussels maritime conventions providing for a uniform law relating to (T) hills of lading. (2) tho liability of shipowners (3) tho immunity of State-owned vosels from legal proceedings, and (4) maritime mortgages and liens. (d) Commercial air services, (e) InterEmpire passports, (f) Wireless telegraphy and telephony. (4) Research and Development—(a) Co-operation in research generally, (b) Co-operation in agricultural reesaicli. (<■) The Imperial Institute, (d) Forestry, (c) Cotton-growing.

(5) Measures of increase exhibition within tho Empire on British films. (6) Tho liability of State enterprises to taxation.

(7) Certain questions as to the law of nationality relating to—(a) Tho naturalisation of persons resident in mandated territories and in protectorates, (li) The general question of nationality of married women, and in particular (1) the re-admission to British nationality of British women married to aliens in cases where the married state, though subsisting m law, has to all practical purposes come to au end; (2) the principle that a British-born woman should ’not on marriage to an alien lose her British nationality, if and so long as she does not acquire tho nationality of her husband under tho law of his country, (c) The acquisition of British nationality by children of the third generation horn abroad of British parents during the war. (cl) Certain questions relating to revocation of certificates of naturalisation.

“It. is proposed at a later date to a fiord tlie House nil opportunity of discussing these subjects, lion, members will understand, however, that the conference is purely a consultative body, a medium for frank and free discussion of important matters affecting the well-being of tho British Empire as a whole and of its constituent dominions and dependencies, and that its decisions can have no practical effect unless and until they are adopted by the Governments concerned. It is essential in tlte.se eireumstances that ropresentavos of tlie dominions should l>e to a considerable extent free from any commitments, in order that the fullest opportunity may be taken of obtaining agreement on each matter involved. Hon. members will understand, therefore that while in any future discussion that may take place in connection with tlie conference, I shall be. glad to bear and take a careful note of views that may he expressed, it is j essential I should have complete liberty | of action to exercise my judgment as to the best course to adopt, having regard to eireumstances as they arise, fhi.s, of course, has been tlie procedure adopted in tile hast, and lion, members will, I am sure, appreciate tlie necessity for its continuance in future. 1 ’ j