LAW OF SUCCESSION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 8, 8 December 1936, Page 7

LAW OF SUCCESSION.

AN INVOLVED POSITION. STATUTE OF WESTMINSTER. Received December 8, 9 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 7. The Times, in an editorial, says: — It is laid down in the preamble to the Statute of Westminster that a change in the law of succession requires the assent of all the Parliaments of the Empire. The law is not that an Act amending the succession is binding only within the jurisdiction of the particular Parliament passing it, but that until all the Parliaments pass the Succession Act it is not binding anywhere. The .Morning Post's diplomatic correspondent, on the contrary, points out that only South Africa has adopted the Statute. The legal position, therefore, though not necessarily the position in practice, seems that while the United Kingdom is constrained from altering the succession to the Throne without the unanimous consent of all the Dominions, none of the Dominions except South Africa, is so constrained individually. The Post says it appears to follow that, while Australia, for example, can prevent a change of succession, Australia herself is not bound to obtain the assent of the United Kingdom to any such alteration insolar as it concerns Australia. The passing of a morganatic marriage law in the United Kingdom would only be possible if all the Dominions agreed, but Australia, it seems, could adopt a law to-morrow making the Duke of xork King provided he would accept the title. . . It is a nice point whether the preamble's declaration is binding in law, but it may be taken that in practice all the Dominions, with the possible exception of the Irish Exec State would so regard it.