1931 - Annual Convention

              S E V E N T E E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON 45
A year ago our Institutes made a special study of the subject of N a t u r a l ­i
z a t i o n of M a r r i e d W o m e n and became quite familiar w i t h many of the incon­sistencies
in Canada's n a t u r a l i z a t i o n laws.
In 1930 the question was discussed at the Conference for the Codification
of International L a w at the Hague. The conference - drew up a convention
w h i c h States- members of the League of Nations were asked to sign. This
convention was approved by the Imperial Conference i n 1930 and formed the
basis of the amendment now before the House of Commons, by which it is
sought to clear up many of the inconsistencies w h i c h now exist.
As our n a t u r a l i z a t i o n law now stands the wife of a B r i t i s h subject is
deemed to be a B r i t i s h subject, and the wife of an alien is deemed to be an
a l i e n .
The laws of some foreign countries conflict with this and peculiar situa­tions
often arise. For example, by the n a t u r a l i z a t i o n regulations of the United
States a woman m a r r y i n g a United States citizen does not by such marriage
become a citizen of that country, so that a Canadian woman who marries an
A m e r i c a n citizen does not become a citizen of the United States, but does
lose her Canadian status. For this reason hundreds of women in Canada
have become women " without a country." A Canadian woman who marries
a United States citizen is unable to enter that country because she is not a
c i t i z e n and is not able to secure a passport from Canada because she likewise
is not a c i t i z e n of this country. The proposed amendment to the N a t u r a l i z a ­t
i o n Act would deem the wife of a B r i t i s h subject to be a B r i t i s h subject, and
the wife of an alien to be an alien. But a woman having been a B r i t i sh
subject would not be deemed to have lost that citizenship by her marriage to
an alien except when she automatically adopted the n a t i o n a l i t y of her husband.
A t the time of w r i t i n g this report this proposed amendment has not yet been
passed by the House of Commons.
In closing my report I desire to thank all those chairmen of this com­mittee
in the various Constituencies and local Institutes who have taken so
much interest in this work and who have given of Itheir time and talent to
extend the work of this committee. It is with no little pride that I remark
that each year during my four years of work with you there seems to have
been a growing interest in the subject of legislation. It is my earnest hope
that my successor in office may find the same eager desire to carry on the
w o r k that I have found and that she may receive the same unfailing support
that I have received.
Let me once again thank everyone for her co- operation in this task of
educating our women to the responsibilities which fall upon them as their
privileges as citizens are being extended.
O U T L I NE
Standing Committee on <. Legislation, 1931- 1932.
The N a t u r a l i z a t i o n A c t : The B r i t i s h North America Act, i n other words,
a study of how Canada is governed.
The problems to be worked out by reason of the return of the Natural
Resources to our Province.
Mother's Allowance, Widow's Relief. Minimum Wage, Sex- equalization
and such other acts as relate to rights and privileges of women.
The making of wills and a study of the statutes with respect to probate
and administration of estates, succession duties, etc.
( M R S . J . W . G.) M A R G A R E T M O R R I S O N,
V e r m i l i o n . Alberta.