I move the Second Reading. During the period of the negotiations for the German Trade Treaty the present German Minister pointed out that there were certain portions of the old code, known technically as the Trading of the Enemy Code, which, though not operating here against nationals of his country, were still upon the Statute Book, and he asked and received from me an assurance that somewhere about the time of the making of the German Treaty I would bring forward legislation to remove certain sections and certain Acts which he pointed out to me. Two are mentioned. One is the prohibition of what was then described as enemy countries indulging in banking operations, and the other thing had relation to enemy nationals having posts upon ships. We want to take both these away.
Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Bill, 1931—Second Stage.
I would like if the Minister would tell us if these are the only sections in the enactments referred to which are still in operation.
I think not. These are the only two objected to.
I wish the Minister would tell us if Section 2 of the Trading with the Enemy Act, 1918, is being repealed in view of any prospect of banking being started here by citizens of the German Republic.
I do not know what is in the mind of the other parties to this Treaty, but they asked specifically that this particular section and that other section should be removed. The Deputy can draw any inference he likes, that they have some intentions of that kind, but intentions of that type will be ruled by the Treaty we have at present before the House. These people will be accorded only the most favoured nation treatment, not national treatment.
I would like to ask the Minister if there is any reason that he knows of as to why the entire enactment should not be repealed.
No, except that it requires to be looked into to see what are the reactions of the other sections of the Act. They have not been found onerous on anybody, and they have not been operative. One does not know what consequential changes may have to be made as a result of their repeal, and we are leaving them for the time being.
Apart altogether from that, there will remain certain restrictions upon foreign nationals entering and residing here.
Apparently not. The German Minister picked out these two things as being the only ones. There was a third thing, but we found that it had disappeared. These were the only two items singled out. Consequently I am assuming that they were the only two things that were found to be onerous by that particular nation.