1324 ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATION [PART V 
a special term of residence, especially in regard to the 
franchise ! and old-age pensions, and the declaration that 
every person naturalized in a Colony was a British subject 
all the world over would have nothing but an excellent effect.’ 
Local legislation as to naturalization differs substantially 
from British merely in the length of time required ere 
naturalization takes effect; thus in Canada a period of three 
years is required, while in New Zealand the time is left to 
the discretion of the authorities ; in the Cape it used to vary 
from time to time, but was very short. In addition in 
Australia there was a colour bar against naturalization, which 
of course is not English, and with federation each state has 
a separate system, just as in Canada until 1867. By Act 
No. 4 of 1910 the legislation of the Union of South Africa is 
made uniform, but natives are not usually naturalized, the 
matter being one of discretion. 
There has been desultory discussion of the possibility of 
establishing a naturalization which would have Imperial 
validity on condition of complying with Imperial conditions ; 
such naturalization would be in addition to the still limited 
local naturalization, and would be a special advantage ; but 
though the scheme is not unpromising, it may be noted that 
it would cause trouble to a man who had already naturalized 
himself to get a second certificate, and that a further compli- 
cation of a tiresome and obscure question is to be deprecated. 
It may be added that the Governors of British Colonies are 
allowed by the Actof 1870 to grant certificates of re-admission 
to British nationality in the cases contemplated in the Act; 
such re-admission has Imperial validity, 
There are all sorts of Acts applying to the Colonies which 
are not exercises of legislative authority with regard to the 
Colonies at all, but are legislation with regard to things in 
the United Kingdom, provided things in the Dominions are 
! See Part III, chap. v; Parl. Pap., Cd. 5273, pp. 155, 156. 
* The question was considered at the Imperial Conference of 1911. See 
Parl. Pap., Cd. 3524, pp. 62-1569, for the draft Bill to consolidate and 
amend the Imperial Act. This contemplated a grant of Imperial natu- 
ralization in a Colony if substantially similar conditions to those enforced 
in England were fulfilled ; Journ. Soc. Comp. Leg., xvii. 135-41.