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13 June, 1911.] Naturalisation. [Bth Day. Mr. FISHER : Can an Act of the Imperial Parliament, except it specifically states that it does so, amend any of the legislation of the self-governing dominions ? The CHAIRMAN : We discussed that before you came in. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : It has been approved. The CHAIRMAN : It was only proposed that the Imperial Act should be adoptive by the Dominions. Mr. FISHER : That is quite true, but you say here—drafted by the legal hand, I presume —that it will not in any way affect the self-governing powers of the Dominions. Sir JOSEPH WARD : It provides that unless we adopt that legislation it does not apply to us. Mr. FISHER : Why is it necessary to say that ? Sir JOSEPH WARD : Because it could not have any effect unless we did. Mr. FISHER : Why do you need to state that there ? If you cannot do it, you cannot do it. Dr. FINDLAY : It is still doubtful. Mr. CHURCHILL : If Mr. Fisher would read the objections which South Africa took to the draft Bill, they took the constitutional ground, and these are more or less the principles which should guide us in preparing the Bill. It is not necessary to affirm it in law at all. Mr. FISHER: You are to ask the Government in the Bill to declare that so-and-so is so-and-so. Sir JOHN SIMON: Would it not meet your feeling if one said—l think exactly the same effect is produced if one laid down one of those propositions in this way : " That the scheme for Imperial naturalisation would have no operative effect in any Dominion until the responsible Government and Legislature of that Dominion had adopted it as its own law." That is exactly the same thing. The CHAIRMAN : This is not a declaration that we cannot legislate for a Dominion; it is merely a declaration that on this particular matter we do not propose to. Mr. FISHER : It is for you to say. I feel, speaking for the Commonwealth of Australia, that there can be no attack on our constitution unless it is specifically stated that you are attempting to amend it, and if you do, you will hear about it. The CHAIRMAN : There is no admission on either side, Mr. Fisher. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Under the Imperial Naturalisation Act of 1870, which is in operation now, exactly the same position exists as that which you are referring to, and we are not bound by that. Mr. FISHER : It is the statement of it that seems to me to be a redundancy. Sir JOHN SIMON: It was intended rather as a protection against a possible misunderstanding.