IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 November 1926, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

THE PRIVY COUNCIL. ITS APPELLATE WORK DIVERGENT OPINIONS. JS CABLX--PRXBB ASSOCIATION —COPT BIGHT LONDON, Nov. 3. In connection with the work of the imperial JR lat ions Committee, it. is admitted that almost- every conceivable subject has cropped up at the meeting of thie committee during the last two discussions, and the predominant topic has been the Privy Council and the scope of its appellate work. Opinions are stated to have been most divergent, not only among the Dominions, but among the- parties of one Dominion. lor instance, while some Canadians are favourable to the abolition of Dominion appeals to the Privy Council, the Erench-Canadians regard such a tribunal as the strongest and most inviolate safeguard. It is understood that mention was made in this category of Australia’s problems of Federal and State statutes involving constitutional interpretations, also of the obligation to obtain the High Court’s leave to appeal. To-day’s all embracing survey brought in the mention of the Colonial Laws Validity Act, and was described a*s most usoful and a most- illuniinating committee meeting. It left one important proposition to be thrashed out by its lawyer members. This concerns a memorandum wherein the Irish Free State is seeking a greater measure of control over its own .shipping. In other words, it -seeks the establishment of its own shipping legister with the implied carollorary ol’ its own flag. The request presents special difficulties, including the possibilities of an awkward predicament arising in the event of war. It is understood that the Free State’s desire met with some opposition, and that the subject is being most carefully examined. TAXATION QUESTIONS. LONDON, Nov. 3. The delegates to the Imperial Conference devoted the day to committee work. The Economic Committee began consideration of the taxation of. nonresidents trading in the Dominions through agents and branches. The British income tax already provides a restriction on the area of taxation .on overseas firms to their merchanting operations in Britain. The committee is at present seeking a possible basis of uniform methods of taxing overseas firms throughout the Epipire. The question of taxation of State enterprises is also being considered with a view to carrying out the 1923 Imperial Economic Conference’s resolution in favour of the taxation thereof on an equal basis to private trading concerns. Tie Nationality Committee has considerably progressed and hopes shortly to report. . The inter-imperial Relations Committee had a further meeting which was wholly confidential. CONSULTATION ON DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS. LONDON, Nov. 3. There have been further exchanges of the various Prime Ministers’ views on improved means of inter-imperial diplomatic consultation, but here again a good deal of sifting will be required to attain an agreed policy. Present indications are that greater powers will be given to the High Commissioners.