425

A.—4

19 June, 1911.] Commercial Arbitration Awards. [llth Day. Sir RUPUS ISAACS— eont. awards given in another part," and substituting certain words which I will read in a moment. The effect of the amended resolution will be that we should consider not only the enforcement of commercial arbitration awards given in one part of the Empire in another, but that also consider whether mutual arrangements could not be made with a view to enforcing in one part of the Empire judgments and orders of Courts of Justice given in other parts of the Empire ; such judgments and orders would include judgments and orders for the enforcement of commercial arbitration awards. It would seem somewhat odd that we should begin by seeking to enforce commercial arbitration awards without taking what would be really the preliminary and more important step of ascertaining whether we could not arrive at some arrangement for mutually enforcing judgments and orders given by our Courts of Justice in various parts of the Empire. In order to carry that out the resolution will now read, as I propose it on behalf of the Imperial Government to the Conference : " That the Imperial Government should consider in concert with the Dominion Governments whether and to what extent and under what conditions it is practicable and desirable to make mutual arrangements with a view to the enforcement in one part of the Empire " —now comes the alteration—"of judgments and orders of the Courts of Justice in another part, including judgments or orders for the reinforcement of arbitration awards." I think that does carry out what the Committee evidently desired when we discussed this matter last Friday. Sir JOSEPH WARD : I am in full accord with what was done by the Committee and I agree with the motion. Dr. FENDLAY : The proposal would, I think, find support right through the self-governing Dominions, particularly if it provided, as no doubt ultimately it will do, that the judgment, order, or award should take effect in the country where operation is sought for it with the sanction of a judge upon notice to the other side—the same kind of provision as exists now. Sir RUFUS ISAACS: The same as exists in our provisions for enforcing awards. Mr. FISHER : I agree. Dr. FINDLAY : It was suggested, and I quite agree that this should be the provision. Mr. MALAN : Yes. I may say this amendment, as now proposed by the Attorney-General, exactly carries out what was agreed in Committee, and we are quite satisfied. CHAIRMAN: Then I may take it the Resolution is agreed to by the Conference. [Agreed.] Dues on Vessels passing through Suez Canal. " This Conference is of opinion that the dues levied upon shipping for using the Suei Canal constitute a heavy charge, and tend to retard the trade within the Empire and with other countries, and invites the Government of the United Kingdom to continue to use their influence for the purpose of obtaining a substantial reduction of the present charges." CHAIRMAN : Are you ready now to take the question of the Suez Canal ? Mr. FISHER : I shall be very brief, and as this Motion does not appear on the Agenda perhaps I had better read it: " This Conference is of opinion that the charges