31

A.—7

NATUEALISATION. Notice had been given on behalf of the Governments of the Cape Colony and Natal that they desired to raise the question of the naturalisation laws; and the report of the departmental committee recently laid before Parliament, and the accompanying correspondence respecting a suggestion of the Dominion Government for facilitating the acquisition of rights of naturalisation throughout the Empire were laid before the members (Appendix XIII.). Some exchange of views on the subject took place, but no resolution was passed. PEOFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT IN SOUTH AFEICA. Notice of a motion on the subject of admission to professional employments in the new colonies had been given on behalf of the Government of New Zealand to the following effect :— " That in arranging for the administration of that portion of the Empire known formerly as the South African Eepublic and the Orange Free State provision should be made that duly qualified members of the learned and skilled professions now admitted and hereafter to be admitted to practice in the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, and in New Zealand be allowed to practise within the newly acquired territories referred to." The accompanying precis (Appendix XIV.) showing the action which had been taken in the matter by the Administration of the Transvaal and the Orange Eiver Colony was distributed to the members of the Conference. There was a general feeling that the condition laid down by the Government of the colonies for the reciprocal admission of professional men from them to practise in the self-governing colonies was reasonable and proper, and the resolution was modified to meet this view, and was passed in the following terms :— " That in arranging for tbe administration of the Transvaal and the Orange Eiver Colony it is desirable that provision should be made that duly qualified members of the learned and skilled professions now admitted and hereafter to be admitted to practice in the self-governing colonies be allowed to practise within the newly acquired territories on condition of reciprocal treatment in the colonies concerned." Sir Wilfrid Laurier dissented from the resolution, stating his reasons as follows : — " This is a Conference of the self-governing colonies. Those colonies which it is sought to affect by this motion are not represented at this Board. They are Crown Colonies now, and, for my part, I think it is questionable wisdom, however meritorious the end may be, to attempt to dictate or suggest what should be done in these countries, which are in an exceptional condition. I think it would be far better to confine ourselves to the colonies we represent on this Board in their relations with the Mother-country. It might serve a good purpose if there were reciprocity, but we know the conditions in my own country :we have not yet been able to reconcile our own differences from province to province so as to get a uniform system. Under these circumstances, how can we expect that conditions which prevail in one country or another can be accepted elsewhere? For my part, I am very strongly of opinion that we should leave this question entirely to the responsibility of the Government concerned, both of the Transvaal and the Orange Eiver Colony." The representatives of Canada desired to bring before the Conference the question of the law under which live cattle imported into this country from Canada are required to be slaughtered at the port of landing. It was considered, however, that the matter was not of sufficient general interest to be dealt with by the Conference, and arrangements were made for its discussion privately with the President of the Board of Agriculture. A similar course was adopted in regard to the relations of the Commonwealth and New Zealand with the islands of the Pacific, which formed the subject of informal discussion between Sir E. Barton and Mr. Seddon and the Colonial Office. VICTOEIA MEMORIAL. During the sitting of the Conference the Prime Ministers intimated their intention to ask their several Parliaments to vote the following sums towards the Queen Victoria memorial : The Dominion of Canada, £30,000; the Commonwealth of Australia, reply not yet received; New Zealand, not less than £15,000; the Cape Colony, £20,000; the Colony of Natal, not exceeding £10,000 ; the Colony of Newfoundland, £2,000. At the final meeting Sir Wilfrid Laurier moved the following resolution, which was carried unanimously : — " The members of this Conference, representing the self-governing colonies, desire before they separate to convey to Mr. Chamberlain their warm and sincere appreciation of the manner in which he has presided over their deliberations, as well as of the many courtesies which they have received from him ; they desire also to put on record the deep sense of gratitude which they feel for the generous hospitality which has been extended to them by the Government and people of the United Kingdom."