My Government, animated by the desire to contribute in every possible way to the maintenance of peace, have concluded an Agreement with the Spanish Government for the preservation of their respective interests in that part of the Mediterranean and Atlantic with which both countries are concerned. The terms of this Agreement have been already laid before you. In response to an invitation from the Russian Government, I appointed Delegates to take part in the International Conference now sitting at The Hague. I trust that its deliberations may result in the conclusion of Agreements that will tend to mitigate the evils of war and secure the peace of the world. In the great Dependency of India certain passing difficulties have not discouraged My Government in framing plans for improving the machinery of administration. These plans have been laid before you, and practical steps have already been taken for securing the presence and advice of Indian Members in the Council of India. The meeting of the Prime Ministers and other leading Statesmen of My Dominions beyond the Seas with the Representatives of the Imperial Government was a source of deep satisfaction to Me, and I note with gratification the arrangement for future meetings at fixed intervals, under the title of "Imperial Conferences," for the free discussion of questions of common concern. The grant of full self-government to the people of the Orange River Colony has been completed, and will, I trust, conduce to their welfare and contentment. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I thank you for the liberality with which you have made provision for the needs of the public service and for the reduction of national indebtedness. My Lords, and Gentlemen, I have recently reviewed the newly constituted Home Fleet, and was profoundly impressed by the efficient condition and admirable appearance of My ships, and the fine bearing and discipline of the officers and men of all ranks. Attention has been directed to the problem of the reorganization of the Forces of the Crown. The broad principles for the reorganization of the Regular Forces at home into six great divisions have been successfully put into operation. The reorganization of the Auxiliary Forces into a Home or Second Line Army has been provided for in the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, which has received My assent. In this Act provision has further been made for filling up serious gaps in the Regular or Field Army of the First Line. An important measure has received my sanction for facilitating (M 663) B 2 the acquisition of Small Holdings and Allotments in England and Wales, which will afford opportunities of advancement to the rural population, and will, I hope, act as some check on migration to the towns. I trust that the establishment of a Court of Criminal Appeal will confirm still further the confidence of the public in the administration of justice. I have also given My assent to a measure for the amendment of the existing Law relating to Patents and Designs, with a view especially to restraining the abuse of monopolies and to strengthening the provisions in regard to the revocation of British patents which are worked abroad, but which are not adequately worked in this country. A Bill has also been passed into law for the amendment of the Companies Acts, which, by affording fuller information concerning public companies and by other provisions, will secure a greater degree of protection to creditors, shareholders, and the public generally. I have also sanctioned an Act which will secure certain administrative improvements in public education, and introduce a system of medical inspection of school children. I have given My assent to a measure for the purpose of accelerating the process of providing farms for evicted tenants in Ireland. I have assented to a measure for codifying, and in several important particulars altering and improving, the whole procedure of the Sheriffs' Courts in Scotland. Important measures affecting the public health have been passed into law, providing, among other things, for the more efficient protection of the community against injurious foodstuffs, whether imported or home-produced, and for the better notification of births. A grievance of long standing is removed by the passing of the Act for legalizing Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister. Further measures have been passed for enabling women to serve on Local Bodies in England and Scotland, for giving My Courts a discretionary power to place offenders under the care of probation officers instead of committing them to prison, for the better regulation of the hours and conditions of labour of the women and girls employed in laundries, for protecting the interests of the producers and consumers of butter, for amending the Vaccination Laws in England and Scotland, and for regulating Whale Fisheries in Scotland. I thank you for the zeal which you have devoted to your arduous labours, and I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend their results. ACT of the British Parliament to amend the Law relating to the Reservation for His Majesty's pleasure of Bills passed by the Legislatures of the States forming part of the Commonwealth of Australia, and to confirm certain Acts passed by those Legislatures. [7 Edw. VII, c. 7.] [August 2, 1907.] BE it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: · 1.(1) There shall be reserved, for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon, every Bill passed by the Legislature of any State forming part of the Commonwealth of Australia which— (a) alters the constitution of the Legislature of the State or of either House thereof; or (b) affects the salary of the Governor of the State; or (c) is under any Act of the Legislature of the State passed after the passing of this Act, or under any provision contained in the Bill itself, required to be reserved; but, save as aforesaid, it shall not be necessary to so reserve any Bill passed by any such Legislature: Provided that (a) nothing in this Act shall affect the reservation of Bills in accordance with any instructions given to the Governor of the State by His Majesty; and (b) it shall not be necessary to reserve a Bill for a temporary law which the Governor expressly declares necessary to be assented to forthwith by reason of some public and pressing emergency; and (c) it shall not be necessary to reserve any Bill if the Governor declares that he withholds His Majesty's assent, or if he has previously received instructions from His Majesty to assent and does assent accordingly to the Bill. (2) For the purposes of this section a Bill shall not be treated as a Bill altering the constitution of the Legislature of a State or of either House thereof by reason only that the Bill (a) creates, alters, or affects any province, district, or town, or division of a province, district, or town, which returns one or more members to either House of the Legislature; or (b) fixes or alters the number of members to be elected for any such province, district, or town, or division of a province, district, or town; or (c) increases or decreases the total number of elective members of either House of the Legislature; or (d) concerns the election of the elective members of the Legislature, or either House thereof, or the qualifications of electors or elective members. (3) Section 33 of the Australian Constitutions Act, 1842,* #5 & 6 Vict., c. 76. shall apply to Bills reserved under this Act in like manner as it applies to Bills reserved under that Act with the substitution of references to a State forming part of the Commonwealth of Australia for references to the colony of New South Wales, and of references to both Houses of the Legislature of the State for references to the Legislative Council. (4) So much of any Act of Parliament or Order in Council as requires any Bill passed by the Legislature of any such State to be reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon, or to be laid before the Houses of Parliament before His Majesty's pleasure is signified, and, in particular, the enactments mentioned in the Schedule to this Act, to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule, shall be repealed both as originally enacted and as incorporated in or applied by any other Act of Parliament or any Order in Council or letters patent. 2.-(1) Any Act passed by the Legislature of any such State, and assented to in the name of His Majesty by the Governor and not disallowed by His Majesty before the passing of this Act, shall, notwithstanding that the Bill for the Act ought to have been but was not reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon, and notwithstanding that it ought to have been but was not duly laid before both Houses of Parliament, be deemed to be and to have been as from the date of that assent as valid as if the Bill had been so reserved and as if it had been laid before both Houses of Parliament, and as if His Majesty's assent to the Bill had been duly given and signified in the State at the date aforesaid. (2) For the purposes of this section references to Acts passed by the Legislature of a State shall be construed as including references to Acts passed before the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia by the Legislature of any Colony which now forms part of that Commonwealth, and references to His Majesty shall be construed as including references to Her late Majesty. 3. This Act may be cited as the Australian States Constitution Act, 1907. SCHEDULE. Enactments Repealed. Session and Short Title. Extent of Repeal. 5 & 6 Vict., c. 76 The Australian Section 31, from "and all Bills alter Constitutions ing" to the end of the section. 7 & 8 Vict., c. 74 The Australian Sections 7 and 8. Constitutions Enactments Repealed-continuel. Session and Short title. Extent of Repeal. 13 & 14 Vict., The Australian In section 12, the words "and the c. 59 Constitutions reservation of Bills for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon, and the Bills so reserved." Section 32, from "Provided always" to the end of the section. Section 33. In section 3, the words "and the reservation of Bills for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon." In section 3, the words " and the reservation of Bills for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon " 25 & 26 Vict., The Australian Section 2. Constitutions c. il 53 & 54 Vict., The Western c. 26 Australia Constitution Act, 1890 In section 2, the words "and the reservation of Bills for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon." ACT of the British Parliament to exempt from Assay Foreign Watch-Cases imported into the United Kingdom before the 1st day of June, 1907. [7 Edw. VII, c. 8.] [August 2, 1907.] Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:: 1.-(1) All watch-cases imported from foreign parts into the United Kingdom,'at any time before the 1st day of June, 1907, shall be exempted from assay in the United Kingdom, and shall accordingly not be subject to the provisions of section 59 of the Customs Act, 1842,* or section 10 of the Revenue Act, 1883,† but, if on any proceedings a question arises whether any watchcase is exempted from assay under the provisions of this Act, it shall lie on the person alleging that the watch-case is exempted to prove that it is so exempted. 5 & 6 Vict., c. 47. +46 & 47 Vict., c. 55. |