A.—4,

422

11th Day.] British and Foreign Shipping. [19 June, 1911. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Why I Mr. FISHER : Because it is practically saying that the Governor-General would be bound to do this, that, and the other. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Pardon me. you were not here when I first stated the position. Mr. FISHER : We have just stated our position through Mr. Pearce. You have stated that if a certain thing transpired in the Federal Parliament, and if a Bill were passed, the Governor-General would be bound to withhold it. I prefer that that matter should not be prejudiced by any outside statement. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Then I will withdraw it, so far as Australia is concerned, and will say that, so far as New Zealand is concerned, it has already occurred under exactly the same law; and the Governor-General in your country does not act except under the Instructions he has when he receives his appointment. There was no desire or no suggestion on my part prejudicing the decision of your Governor-General; far from it. In our case we put legislation through both Houses of Parliament with clatises in to meet our purpose, and our Governor held it over and referred it to the Home Government and it has not! received the Royal Assent. Mr. FISHER : I do not wish a statement of that kind to go in unchallenged by the representatives of the Commonwealth. Sir JOSEPH WARD : I am not saying anything against your Government, or as to what might occur with regard to your Governor-General, who will in any case do whatever he considers to be right; but I am entitled to say what has occurred to us under the same law you quote from, and I think you will find, as a matter of experience, I am not far out in saying that it has a general application. Mr. BUXTON : The point raised by Mr. Pearce and the opinion quoted, and so on, were before the Conference in 1907. Mr. FISHER : It is the opinion of the Crown Law Officers of the Commonwealth. Mr. BUXTON : All that was before the Conference in 1907, and was fully considered when they came to the conclusion they did at that time. Sir D. de VILLIERS GRAAFF : I may say we have no objection to the Resolution. . We have not suffered any inconvenience in connection with the shipping law. Our troubles are rather the other way — not the question of shipping law, but rather the shipping that has given us trouble up to now. So far as we are concerned we have no objection to the Resolution. CHAIRMAN : Under the circumstances explained by Mr. Buxton, the British Government feel obliged to abstain from assenting to this motion, though they will not vote against it. We abstain on the ground that it is too wide for us to accept so general a declaration. Sir Edward Morris, who has had to leave, gave me authority to say that he would not vote either way on this subject if he were present. Sir Joseph Ward and Canada both vote for it, T understand. . . , ....... Mr. FISHER: Our position is that we will accept this Resolution. CHAIRMAN : You vote for the Resolution 1 Mr. FISHER : Yes; it does not limit our power.