A.—s

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final Court of Appeal so far as we are concerned, except in special cases which would be laid down. At the same time, I would add that the prerogative of the King the right of every citizen of the British Empire to appeal to the King — must be carefully safeguarded, but that would practically not be used, because I understand, supposing the right of appeal was refused in a particular case by the Appeal Court to the Privy Council, and an individual still wished to go to the Privy Council, as his right is, of course, the practical point is that if he won his ease or lost it, he would still have to pay all the costs, which would be a considerable deterrent to anyone taking that extreme action. I think I will leave General Botha to bring forward these further resolutions. Sir JOSEPH WARD: Who do you suggest would constitute the superior court—the final Court of Appeal in South Africa I Dr. JAMESON : Judges selected in South Africa by all the States in South Africa. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Judges who had previously tried portions of the cases i Dr. JAMESON : No, we would like, ultimately, when the business was large enough, to have separate judges for it, but as a tentative measure they might be selected from the various States, and if there was not enough work for the judges to do in the Appeal Court they might be the superior judges in the various States. That is a detail to be managed out there', but the idea would be that the judges of the final Appeal Court would have their time occupied as judges of that Court. Mr. DEAKIN : With the jurisdiction you propose I do not think there would he much doubt about that. Sir JOSEPH WARD : No, I think not, General BOTHA : My Lords and gentlemen, I have little to add to what Dr. Jameson has said We have a Memorandum. If the Chairman thinks it necessary, 1 should like to hand in this Memorandum so that the other Premiers may peruse it. There is a resolution attached to this Memorandum which we should like to support. Dr. Jameson has rightly remarked that there is a great desire in South Africa to establish a Court of Appeal, and, although we have there four Colonies, we think that we can commence Federation by establishing this Appeal Court for South Africa: specially also because this will in a great measure reduce the amount of costs, and it will be specially advantageous to the poorer classes who cannot afford to carry appeals to the Privy Council, to go to a Court of Appeal in South Africa. I will, therefore, ask I >aye to hand in this Memorandum, and T should like to add to that Memorandum the resolution which we, the Premiers of South Wriea, have arranged to support, CHAIRMAN: I think it would be belter i I 'you would read both.

Seventh Day. 26 April l!M>7.

Imperial Coubt of Appeal. (Dr. Jameson.)