§ 9. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will raise at the coming 1846 Imperial Conference the question of the Quebec Succession Duties Act of 1914, so far as it affects the estates of deceased British subjects not domiciled in the Province of Quebec?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I am advised that His Majesty's Government do not propose to take the action suggested by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. SAMUELIs it competent for persons in this country, other than members of the Conference, to take action?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREOne of the difficulties is that the Imperial Conference and the Imperial Economic Conference are represented by the Dominion authorities, and that this applies to an Act of one Province, Quebec, and that the Government of that Province will not bb represented at the Imperial Economic Conference or the Imperial Conference next year. This is primarily a matter for the Treasury.
§ Mr. SAMUELAre other Dominions damnified by the action of the Provincial Legislature?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThat is so.
§ Sir JOHN BUTCHERIn view of the great importance of this matter to British subjects who are not domiciled in Quebec, will my hon. Friend either have it brought before the Imperial Conference or brought directly before the Provincial Government of Quebec?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORETo the best of my knowledge, the Provincial Government of Quebec are fully aware of all the various representations that have been made in the past.
§ Mr. SAMUELIs not my hon. Friend aware that British subjects in England are very gravely affected, and it is not the duty of the Treasury to take the matter up?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt is primarily a Treasury matter. I agree that British subjects are affected by this legislation, which is within the full competence of the powers of the Government of the Province of Quebec.