REGENCY BILL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 13, 30 January 1937, Page 6

REGENCY BILL

-Copyrieht.)

Provisions During Princess's Minority " SUCCESSION UNCHANGED

; (By Telegraph— Press Assn.-

' LONDON, Jan. 27. "The Times" points out that the Begency Bill, in accordance with the Statute of Westminster, provides for a Eegency of .the TJhited Kingdom and the Crown colonies alone and not, like the Act of 1910, of the British Empire. It does not alter "the law touching the succession to the Throne or the Royal .style and titles," therefore the ! establlshed constitutional position does not require the simultaneous assent of all the self-governing Dominions.

The natural procedure is for eaeh Dominion to legislate for a Eegent of its own territory and it may be eupposed that they will concur in so legislating that the powers of the Eegency everywhere in the British Empire will, when required, vest in the same person. His functions oversea would, in any ease, practically be . limited to appointing new . Governors-General. The Bill means that, were Princess Elizabeth to eucceed to the .Throne be' f ore she is 18, the Duke of Gloueester would be Eegent. It had b6en previously suggested that the Eegent would be Queen Elizabeth. The Duke of Gloueester will also be Eegent should King George be.come incapacitated, but Princess Elizabeth will become eligible as Eegent on teaching the age of 21. The Bill does not - provide for the appointment of a Eegent during a minor illness of the Sovefeign or his absence abroad. In either of theee circumstances. the King will appoint a Council of State which, in present circumstances, will consist of Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Gloueester, the Duke of Kent, the Princess Eoyal and Princess Arthur of •Connaught. ■ The Bill differs from the Act passed on- the accession of King George V., which provided for the King 'a wif e, Queen Mary, to be Eegent, in substituting the Duke ' of Gloueester for Queen Elizabeth. Clause six provides . that the Sovereign, when out of the country, may convey instruetions by telegraph, thus excluding the Empire telephone service. It is understood th'at th.e reason is that there must be a record of any instruetions given.