§ MR. ROBERT COX (Edinburgh, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he intends to take steps to induce the Government of New South Wales to bring itself within the scope of Section 20 of the Finance Act, 1894, so that the payment of Death Duties to Her Majesty's Government and to the Government of New South Wales by the representatives of persons domiciled in this country and dying possessed of property in New South Wales may be put an end to; and, if so, will he endeavour to make any such agreement retro-active?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.The matter is entirely one for the Government and Legislature of New South Wales, and I should not feel justified in interfering in any way with their discretion in regard to it.
§ MR. COXasked whether the right hon. Gentleman could indicate in what way the Government of New South Wales might be approached on the matter?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI cannot. I must point out to my hon. Friend that we have given self-government to these Colonies, and we must take the consequences. I cannot officially offer my hon. Friend any advice, but I suppose that the Government of New South Wales can be approached like any other free Government, and it so happens that the Prime Minister of New South Wales is at present in this country.