THE BANK BILL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 688, 14 November 1933, Page 6

THE BANK BILL

LEGISLATIYE COUNCJL MAY TRY TO INTRODUCE AMENDMENTS QUESTION OF POWERS Wellington, Monday The Resexwe Bank Bill will come before the Legislativ& Councll on Wednesday for its second reading, and indications are that an interesting debate will result, as it is known there are several members of the council who are lopposed to some of the principles embodied in the measure. The xnost interesbing featura of the eouncil's consideration of the bill will be in the committee stages, when it -is belxeved that some amendments will be proposed. The question is bound to arise whether the Legislative Council has the x*ight to amend the bill. The powcrs of the- council are limited in so far as "money" bills are concerned. It can reject such bills in toto, but cannot amend them. Some- doubt appeax-s to exist whether the Reserve Bank Bill is a money bill, but it is understood that if the question is raised it will be ruled that' it is not a money bill in the stx-ict sens-e- of the term. May, in his "Pax-ldamentary Px*actice," defines a money bill thus: "A money bill is defined as a public bill which in the opinion of the- Speaker of the House of Commons contains only provisions dealing with all, or any of, the following subjects, namely, the ixnposition, repeal, remission, alteration or regulation of taxation, the imposition for payme-nt of debt or other financial purposes of chax-ges on the Consolidated Fund or on money provided by Paxdiament, or th'e \ariation or repeal of any such charges of supply, the appropriation, receipt, custody, issue or audit of accounts of public money raising, or the guarantee of any loan or repayment thereof, or subordinate matters ineidental to those subjects ior any of thenx." The Reserve Bank Bill is a composite m-easure, in that some of its clauses affect the public purse and others ax'e of a machinery nature. The council will probably take up the a-ttitude that it has the right to amend clauses in the bill which do not affect the public purse, and it is not likely that its right to do this will he challenged, unless such aetion nullifie-s the effect of any of the money clauses.