§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the instructions issued to Australian Governors, which contain a clause to the effect that any Act passed by the Colonial Legislatures "whereby the rights of British subjects not residing in the colony may be prejudiced," shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon, whether this Instruction has been held to include Acts, authorising the imposition of restrictions on the immigration of British subjects; and if he can say in what respects the provisions of Clause 8 in the Western Australian Constitution Bill afford any further protection of the rights of British subjects than is already provided in the instructions?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSI may point ou to my hon. Friend that the words in the Royal Instructions are— 63
Any Bill of an extraordinary nature and importance, whereby our prerogative or the rights and property of our subjects not residing in the colony, or the trade and shipping of the United Kingdom and its Dependencies may be prejudiced.It is certainly, at least, open to question whether the words "rights and property," which are conjunctive, would cover a restriction upon immigration to which my hon. Friend refers. The introduction of Clause 8 precludes any doubt upon the subject.
§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTONHave these Acts in all cases been reserved?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSYes.