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13 June, 1911.] Naturalisation. [Bth Day. Mr. BATCHELOK : I do not know if that could be arranged; Mr. Pearce is taking those subjects. The CHAIRMAN : I think we had better leave it over until the end of our sitting. Mr. BATCHELOR: I know Mr. Pearce is prepared to attend to-morrow morning, but I do not know whether he is able to attend all day. Sir JOSEPH WARD : What about Saturday morning ? Mr. BATCHELOR : I could not answer for Mr. Pearce. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Let it stand till later in the day. The CHAIRMAN: Yes. Then we will proceed with the resolution on Naturalisation. Naturalisation. Australia : — " That this Conference is in favour of the creation of a system which, while not limiting the right of a Dominion to legislate with regard to local naturalisation, will permit the issue to persons fulfilling prescribed conditions of certificates of naturalisation effective throughout the Empire, and refers to a subsidiary Conference the question of the best means to attain this end." New Zealand : — " That it is in the best interests of the Empire that there should be more uniformity throughout its centres and dependencies in the law of naturalisation." Union of South Africa :— " That it is desirable to review the principles underlying the draft Bill for Imperial Naturalisation before its details are discussed further." Mr. BATCHELOR : I move the Australian resolution : " That this Conference is in favour of the creation of a system which, while not limiting the right of a Dominion to legislate with regard to local naturalisation, will permit the issue to persons fulfilling prescribed conditions of certificates of naturalisation effective throughout the Empire, and refers to a subsidiary conference the question of the best means to attain this end." The resolution that was passed at the last Conference affirmed the desirability of uniformity of naturalisation as far as practicable, and decided that an inquiry should be held to consider the question further. The idea, I think, was that there should be some subsidiary conference later on, and that the details should then be determined on the drafting of an Imperial Bill. Ido not mean to go into the history of this matter, because, of course, it is all within the knowledge of every member of the Conference equally with myself. An attempt has been made by the Home Office in the preparation of a Bill which was sent round to all the Dominions, and replies and suggestions were, I think, received .from all the Dominions, and they show very great difference and much divergence of practice as regards naturalisation throughout the Dominions. What we particularly desire, and that is the Australian view which our Cabinet have decided upon, is that there should be certain things that we must lay down to begin with as regards naturalisation ; that is to say, every self-governing Dominion must determine for itself whom it admits to its citzenship. We begin with that, and any kind of attempt to influence or direct any of the Dominions as to whom they shall admit to local naturalisation is no part of this Conference, but the question is solely for the individual State. Nothing could be done in the direction of Imperial naturalisation except by the Parliaments of the Dominions themselves ; and we