BANKING ACT CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 136, 20 March 1948, Page 5

BANKING ACT CASE

DR. EVATT CLASHES WITH JUDGE MELBOURNE, March 19. “Nothing you have said this morn iug has added anything to what you said yesterday,” said Mr Justice Stall:o to the Federal Attorney-General (D'\ 11. V. Evatt) in the Full High Court to-day, when the hearing of the Banking Act case was continued. Dr. Evatt: I would have said a lot more if your Honour had been listening to me. Mr Justice Starke: I have been listening for two weeks. Dr. Evatt: I have spent much time answering question, and I have done my best to answer them fully. Dr. Evatt argued that the Banking Act was not intended to impair or reduce the existing banking facilities. The Act made it the statutory duly of the Commonwealth Bank to provide adequate banking facilities for any State or person requiring them. The Chief Justice (Sir John Latham): There is no provision for a penalty of £IO,OOO a day if the Commonwealth Bank does not perform this duty. (This .is the penalty against the banks if the provisions of the Act are not carried out.) Dr. Evatt: If the conditions are not carried out by the Commonwealth Bank, they could he enforced by an order of mandamus.