A.—s

182

Sixth I >;i v. 21 April 1907.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER : That is, perhaps, as far as this Conference would propose to go. It is a very complicated question, and I think it advisable to have a discussion upon it. CHAIRMAN : You wish to discuss it further ? Sir WILFRID LAURIER : I think so. It is most important and most complicated. Sir JOSEPH WARD : It certainly ought to be discussed. Mr. HERBERT GLADSTONE : It is very complicated. CHAIRMAN : We submitted this resolution strictly in the terms of the decision of the Conference the other day with regard to our future organisation, so that it might be carried out on those lines, namely, that we should be responsible for seeing that an inquiry was made at a subsidiary Conference held as soon as the inquiry might be ready. We put it before you just now in case on those terms the Conference did not wish to discuss it further at this meeting, it being a very technical matter, but of course if the Conference does desire it, we must try and arrange another day. Dr. JAMESON : Could it be adjourned to one day next week, when we might have a copy of what Mr. Gladstone has told us ? CHAIRMAN : We cannot discuss it next week. Sir JOSEPH WARD : I think we ought to have a general discussion upon it. Dr. JAMESON : Yes, that general discussion might be at a later period, and then we shall have before us a copy of Mr. Gladstone's address. c* Sir JOSEPH WARD : If this matter went to a Committee before we had an opportunity of discussing it, there are some points of material importance certainly, to New Zealand, which I should have no opportunity of dealing with. I wish to deal with them, though I can do so briefly, because it is a very complicated and tlifficult matter and the proposals outlined by Mr. Gladstone in some respects are of a very far reaching character so far as my country is concerned. Mr. HERBERT GLADSTONE : May I say that I did not formally move the resolution with a view to avoid a general discussion before we got to it, but I thought that as the hour was now late it might be desirable to put my general suggestion before the Conference so that you should be in possession at any rate of our views in the matter, and then the Conference could take what course it thought desirable. CHAIRMAN : Then the Conference adjourns on this matter, and the actual day to be fixed for that discussion to be left open. Adjourned to to-morrow at 3.30.

Naturalization.