IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10960, 1 May 1907, Page 4

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

IMPERIAL COURT OF APPEAL,

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS

(Per Press Association.)

WELLING ION, last night. The following further cable messages have been supplied to the Press Association by tlie Government : —

LONDON, April 29. ! Sir J. G. Ward, speaking at -the Imperial Conference on Friday, said New Zealand was m favor of an ultimate Court of Appeal m the United Kingdom, whether tlie Privy Council as at present constituted or an Imperial Court of Appeal. "Various suggestions had been made by differem, colonies, and perhaps the simpler course would be for the Home authorities to prepare a draft Order-in-Council consolidating tlie existing one with such alterations and simplifications as were deemed reasonable, and forward. the draft to the respective Governments to confer thereon, and make a common report' as alterations were desired or amended. In this way the rules would be common to all appeals, and special rules dealing with appeals from specified colonies, where special rules were necessary, could be provided. Sir J. G. Ward supported an Appeal Court being established for South Africa. He also favored '"shortening the delay of the present system. He also urged the necessity for providing that a colonial Judge should sit on the Privy Council. One great defect of the Privy Council, as at present corustitiited is that though m the case of a New __ealand apfieal they decided according to New Zeaand law, yet,' they had before them only such portion of that law as presented by counsel; hence, when argument was over their Lordships may some rule of English law which was repealed m New Zealand, or omit to apply some rule of New Zealand law. This had actually occurred, and the result was very unsatisfactory. To prevent a recurrence he suggested that, m the case of. every appeal from a colony a Judge of the Supreme Court of that colony should sit with their Lordships; but without taking part m the argument or decision. His function 1 would be to supply information on colonial law, and points^of difference betweenit and English law. In most, if not all the colonies, the number of Judges was sufficient to enable one to be on leave, and arrangements could, he thought, be made for him to be m touch with England so as to be available. H colonial Judges could hare a permanent. position m such cases to sit with equality on the bench it was all the more desirable; but. for a commencement his fust suggestion could, , he thought, be given effect to.

Tlie Chancellor of the Exchequer, m the course of a speech, said the Privy Council placed the best services possible m dealing with colonial appeals, and were anxious to do all m their power to promote the A satisfactory working of the Privy Council work. He pointed out that whether settled by the Lords or the Privy Council was not a material consequence, as the same men constituted both. Hefavored an Appeal Court for South Africa, and said he would carefully consider the whole "question of consolidating .the existing rules. He was m favor: of the suggestion of Sir J. G. Ward re a colonial Judge sitting with their Lordships, and taking part when colonial appeals were dealt with. He said that anything that could assist tlie Privy Council m improving the working of tlie Court would be hailed with satisfaction. No efforts were to be spared by the Judges now, and he assured the Conference that every effort would be,_iad<. to prevent delay, -and said the work at present was m a more forwaed. condition. ■

Sir J. G. Ward has represented to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's the desirability of perpetuating the memory of the late Mr Seddon, by the erection of a monument and a plate witli inscription, and this lias been agreed to. Sir J. G. Ward visited the crypt m St. Paul's on Saturday night with Archdeacoi Sinclair with the. object of selecting a suitable site. The one considered by the St. Paul' 9 authorities most satisfactory is close to Sir G. Grey's. Sir J. G. Ward meets New. Zealanders to forward the movement. 'While m the crypt an junusual incident occurred. _ A number c^f school children accompanied their tutors m inspecting St. Paul's, and were introduced, and Sir Joseph Ward was asked for a speech. He -resixmded, and at the conclusion •; was heartily thanked. _ The Navigation Conference concluded its> sittings to-day. Important work has ■been done, and *t is generally considered of advantage to further the working of British shipping. The Conference showed a distinct preference to the employment of British ships -between" England and the colonies.;.