AN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 July 1919, Page 5

AN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

i REORGAN~I‘SATIOI\' or THE q’ i EMPIRE. | _.__._ i NEW YORK. .rul;.- 15. 5, The New York Tribune's London icorersponacnit‘ learns that a Bill is !bc-ing drafted for submission io the [British Parliament in September pro!viding for the reorganisafion of fhc !Empire. The plan would convert isixty component parts of the Empire [into one nation, with an Imperial Parlliamenf. for the purpose of CO-07'(1.il‘n-!.atin_g the military, naval and ‘otzsiness functions of the different Dominiions.

Zach Dominion would retain its ovvni ’al'liam(-nt. The llmperial Parliaient would consist of a single a.§§em~ .1y with a Ministry responsibfé to ts memhemliip. There would be 149 cpresentatives in all from the lnited Kingdom, Canada Newfoundand, Australia. New Zealand and’ louth Afr-ica. in the proportion ‘of rho member for each. -half—millioll vhito people The chief duties ‘fifthe mporial Parliament would be to setle diS}_mt(\s between the Dominions make all treaties with other Powers, 1113 to. declare war. Ofhcr duties vould be to control the’ Imperial Xrmy and Navy; to_ determine and be :olely .n‘.<pollsiblc for the Empire’s )olicies regarding citizenship ‘and naturalisution; impose «taxes on the yasis of equal contributions by every :itizen, according to his relative vealth, thus eliminating the inequality mder which British Islanders new pay nany times as much as the Dominions. [‘lle Imperial Ministry would include :he ‘S€(‘.l‘L‘t:ll‘l.Cs of State for Fcirclgn Affairs, War, Navy, Crown Colonies, [mperial Treasury and five secretaries without portfolios, on the basis of one for each Dominion, The plan also provides for an Imperial Supreme Court. The first step towards carry ing out this plan would be calling together of a constitutional convention for framing the constitution, which would contain a provision that no amendment of the constitution could be made unless approved by a majority of the Dominions, as well a.s a majority of the Imperial Parliament.