431

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20 June, 1911.] Publication of Proceedings. [12th Day. There were also present : Lord Lucas, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Colonies ; Mr. Atlee A. Hunt, C.M.G., Secretary to the Department of External Affairs* Commonwealth of Australia; Mr. J. R. Leisk, Secretary for Finance, Union of South Africa ; and Private Secretaries to Members of the Conference.

Publication of Proceedings. Mr. HARCOURT : It is proposed to publish the precis of the meetings of the Conference which has been issued from day to day, and which, I am sure, we shall all agree has been admirably done, in a complete form as a Parliamentary Paper, as soon as possible after the close of the Conference. The precis of the Conference of 1907 was published in a similar manner. With regard to the publication of the full proceedings of the Conference, it is proposed that the precis of to-day and the proceedings of the Conference, when published, should contain the following statement r —" The Conference discussed the question of the publication of the proceedings, and decided that they should be published at as early a date as possible." I hope we may be able to get the full proceedings of the Conference out in about three weeks. Naval Defence. With regard to the South African Resolution, No. 3 : " That wherever votes in favour of monetary contributions towards Imperial Naval Defence are made by the overseas Dominions, any naval services rendered or provision for coastal defence, if any, of the Dominions, with the approval of the Admiralty be borne on such votes," I understand the matter is under discussion between the South African representatives and the Admiralty on behalf of His Majesty's Government, and it is agreed by General Botha that he will be satisfied if the conclusion arrived at is embodied in correspondence for inclusion amongst the Papers of the Conference. Imperial Court of Appeal. Perhaps first, we ought to deal with the Paper which is on the table now, a summary of the proposals made by the Lord Chancellor with regard to the Supreme Court of Appeal. If that is approved by the Conference it can go into the papers which will be published in the Bluebook. The PRESIDENT : The Resolution was passed on the 12th June. " That having heard the views of the Lord Chancellor and Lord Haldane, the Conference recommends the proposals of the Government of the United Kingdom be embodied in a communication and sent to the Dominions as early as possible." This is in response to that Resolution. Viscount HALDANE : This is in response to that Resolution and as far as I know, accurately represents, what was decided at the Conference. The PRESIDENT: Yes, it seems to be so. Mr. BATCHELOR : It adds two judges and it alters the practice.

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