§ * MR. MACLEANI beg to ask Mr. Attorney General if he can now say in how many appeals from Australia issues of constitutional or Imperial importance have boon raised.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir ROBERT FINLAY, Inverness Burghs)I have some difficulty in giving a categorical answer to my hon. friend's question, as there may be differences of opinion as to what are issues of constitutional or Imperial importance, but I may say that I am informed that there have been from l876 to 1899 inclusive forty-seven cases referred to the Judicial Committee which might be regarded as involving directly or indirectly such issues. Of these, twenty-one are cases under Crown Lands Acts; five arise under Constitution Acts for Colonies; six affect rights of persons not domiciled in the particular colony in question; twelve bear on the prerogative powers or rights of the Crown or a Governor, including three cases of dismissal of Government servants; one rebates to restrictions on immigration of Chinese into a colony; one to general powers of the Judicial Committee to review former decisions, and one to payment of members in a Legislative Assembly.