IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10264, 16 June 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

THE NATURALIZATION QUESTION. (Received June 15, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, June 15. At the Imperial Conference, the discussion on the question of natur-. aliz&tdon was continued, Mv Winston GllUrellill, dealing with Mr Batohelor's motion "that every Dominion must determine whom it will admit to citizenship," said that uniformity was important. It wlould be a great advantage if they could remedy the present inconveniences. Any system" adopted must be based on the assent of. the local Parliaments. The draft Bill must not be regarded as, final or perfect, but .simply as a peg on which to hang discussion of the whole question. Each Dominion must judge of its own conditions under the general Imperial certificates of naturalisation proposed t» he granted. If effect was to be given to the wishes which had been expressed, they must face two standards of naturalization —a- local standard .and an Imperial one. Great Britain would not depart from the present five years' qualifying period. He suggested that any person obtaining a (.Dominion's certificate could apply for an Imperial certificate. It would thus be possible to allow existing diversitios to continue. 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 firstly, that Imperial nationality should be world-wide and uniform, each Dominion remaining free to grant local certificates on its own lines; secondly, that the Mother Country finds it necessary to maintain five year's as the minimum qualifying period, but that quinquennium passed anywhere within the Empire should be equivalent to the quinquennium in the United Kingdom; thirdly, that the granting of Imperial nationality in every case should be discretionary, this'discretion to be exercised by those responsible in the area where the applicant spent the last twelve months; fourthly, that the Imperial Act should be so framed as to enable the Dominions to adopt it; fifthly, that nothing now proposed shall affect the validity or effectiveness of local laws regulating immigration, or differentiating between classes of British subjects. Continuing, Mr Churchill suggested that the Bill be re-drafted according to his suggestions, iaud that it be submitted for 'consideration as soon as possible. '• Dr Findlay, Attorney-General of New Zealand, said there appeared to him to be some needless duplication in regard to local and Imperial applications. This might be avoided by the Imperial statute. It would then be open to the Dominions 'to adopt, it or not- as they .pleased. ..--.Mr Batchelor , said Mr Churchill's suggestions overcame most of the difficulties. It would be convenient to set up an Imperial standard. Mr Churchill moved his suggestions as a resolution, which was carried- ~... Mr " Churchill moved ' 'that to meet oaseswhere aliens are deported from any Dominion to any other, t is desirable that some system sho-ild be deviled whereby the Governments concerned may effectively co-operate in adopting measures for the final disposition of such aliens." This motion was adopted.

The Conference agreed that the King's Birthday should be celebrated throughout' the Empire on June 3rd.

The Conference also discussed the question of Empire Day, but no der. eigion was reached.

The Conference adjourned until Thursday.