STATUS OF CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19892, 10 March 1928, Page 11

STATUS OF CANADA.

INTERNATI ONAL COMMISSION DRASTIC CHANGES IN VIEW. A. and N.Z. OTTAWA. March «. A startling: development *s result' of Canada's changed, relationship with - Britain is imminent.- Prom authentic sources it is learned that the Prixrir Minister, Mr. Mackenzie King, contemplates utilising the opportunities of the new status of Canada in the British Commonwealth to make drastic changes in the basis and the personnel oif -the • International Joint Commission. Heretofore the authority of the Canadian section of that body had its sonree in the British Government. . The Prime Minister holds that the section should be named by Canada in the country's own right and authority, The chairman, Mr* C. A. Magrath, placed his resignation in the hands of {he Government three years ago, but it was not'accepted. It is stated that Mr. King has asked for the resignations of the two other members, Sir William Hearst, an ex-Premier of Ontario, and Mr. H. A. Powell, St. John.

A treaty was* signed at Washington on • January 11, 1909, between Britain and the United States relating to tjie use of the boundary waters between Canada and the States. The treaty provides for the establishment and maintenance of an international joint commission, consisting of three representatives appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Dominion, and three appointed by the President of the United States. The commission has jurisdiction, .subject to the treaty conditions, in all cases involving the use, obstruction or diversion of the boundary waters. Mr. Charles Alexander Magrath, the Canadian chairman, has been chairman of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario since 1925. He was an engineer and was Fuel Controller of Canada during the - war. For some years he was in the Cana- , dian House of Commons. Sjr William Howard Hearst was at, the Bar for many years, and was elected to the Ontario House in 1908.. He was Premier, 1914-19.