PRIVY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18441, 6 December 1929, Page 9

PRIVY COUNCIL.

QUESTION IN COMMONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 4. In the House of Commons, Mr Ramsay Macdonald (Prime Minister), in answer to a question, said no communications on the subject of an alternative to the Judical Committee of the Privy Council for the settlement of legal disputes between members of the British Commonwealth of Nations had been received from any of his Majesty’s Governments in the Dominions. The whole subject could be most appropriately discussed at the next Imperial Conference.

FREE STATE’S ATTITUDE. APPEAL PENDING. (United Press Association—By Xlectrlt Telegraph —Cdpyrlght.) (Received December 5, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 4. The Free State’s attitude toward the Privy Council is likely shortly to be tested, owing to a pending appeal in which the Bray Urban Council is concerned. Bray is a seaside resort near Dublin. During a carnival in 1926, the Council’s Band allegedly played selections from “Lilac Time,” and also an oldtime waltz, “Venus on Earth.” The Performing Rights Society brought an action for an infringement of copyright, and won the case in the local Court, but the Supreme Court reversed the decision, hence an appeal to the Privy Council.

RIGHTS OF DOMINIONS. PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. (United Press Association—By Elsetris Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received December 5, 10.0 p.m.) LONDON, December 4. In the House of Commons, the Marquis of Hartington called attention to the right of British subjects overseas to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. In view of the statement by the Minister that the Irish Free State no longer intended to respect the jurisdiction of that final Court, the Marquis *ioped that Mr Macdonald would make a decisive announcement on the matter. Mr Macdonald, replying, said that appeal to the Privy Council was discussed at the Imperial Conference in 1926, and was referred to the next Conference. The Government expected that if any dominion Government desired to go beyond that open and unsettled position it should communicate with the British Government.