PRIVY COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 20254, 15 August 1929, Page 9

PRIVY COUNCIL

DOMINIONS' RIGHT OF APPEAL

ABOLITION IF DESIRED AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION NECESSARY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, August. 14. (Received August 15, at 11.25 a.m.) The ‘ Herald's ’ political correspondent understands that Britain’s Labour Government is ready to permit any dominion to abolish the right of appeal to tho Privy Council if it so desires. This intimation is given following upon tho Irish Free State’s request to forgo the Privy Council as the highest legal tribunal in the Empire.

It is likely that this momentous amendment to tho Constitution will occur at no distant date. ■ It is learned that the Government feels that all tho dominions are thoroughly competent to establish the highest courts of appeal within thenown territory and f under their _ own auspices. It will be necessary to introduce legislation in the British Parliament to amend the Constitution before the change is effected. It should be understood that the dominions will in no way he hound to forgo the Privy Council, which will continue to exist unchanged for any dominion desiring to maintain the right of appeal thereto. Indeed, it is considered that Australia. New Zealand, and Canada will certainly continue to use the Privy Council.-United Service.