A.—s

488

Sir WILFRID LAURIER : It is a most complicated subject, Sir Joseph Ward. There will be no objection to our meeting our local circumstances; that is quite consistent with the desire to obtain uniformity of legislation. Mr. DEAKIN : We want a general policy and a resolution in that direction. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : The resolution of Mr. Lloyd George, with the qualification at the end, is not objectionable. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : That is substantially the Cape resolution, it is pointed out to me. I had not seen the Cape resolution at all, but with reference to the word " Imperial legislation," that would be impossible, as we could not legislate for Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It might be put in this way : " That it is desirable that His Majesty's Government, after full " consultation with the Colonies, should endeavour to provide such uniformity " as may be practicable." Dr. SMARTT : " Uniformity of laws as far as possible." Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : That is substantially the Cape resolution, except the first part of it. Dr. SMARTT : I see your difficulty as to the first part, but we can easily meet it. What we had in view in framing this resolution was that we wanted, as far as possible, as another example of unity, to have our patent laws and our trade statistics, and our company laws, and everything of that sort, formed upon the same basis, and we look to the Imperial Government in their Act to advise us as to the best mode of procedure to bring about that as far as possible. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : I think your resolution admirably meets it. Dr. SMARTT : I think Mr. Lloyd George will specially agree with me that it is most inadvisable, even in regard to our company laws, that you should have one law in England and a different law in all the various British Colonies, who are anxious to have them all on the same basis. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : I think it is trade marks and not merchandise marks you have in your mind. Dr. SMARTT : Yes, " trade marks " it ought to be instead of " merchandise marks." Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : I think that might be carried. CHAIRMAN : " That it is desirable that His Majesty's Government, after full consultation with the Colonies, should endeavour to provide such uniformity as may be practicable in the laws for the granting and protection of trade marks and patents." Sir WILFRID LAURIER ; Very good.but replace theword "Colonies."

Thirteenth Day. 8 May 1907.

Uniformity of Patent Laws.

Resolution XIII., p. ix.