§ 19. Mr. LONGasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the unsatisfactory manner in which the naturalisation laws 1164 have worked in our Over-sea Dominions; and whether he can see his way to introduce a Bill on the subject?
§ The SECRETARY OF STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)The amendment of the Naturalisation laws formed the subject of consideration at the last Imperial Conference, and, subsequently, of correspondence with the Dominion Governments, and the proposed Bill has been recast. The draft of the Bill which it is hoped to introduce shortly is now before the Dominion Governments.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this matter of naturalisation has been before the Imperial Conference since 1887?
§ Mr. HARCOURTIt has never been technically before the Imperial Conference. It has never been so effectively before the Imperial Conference as it was last time, and as it will be before us within the next few weeks.