CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18266, 27 December 1924, Page 15

CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM

MONEY BILL PASSED OVER COUNCIL.

Acting on the advice of Ministers, the Licut.-Governor of Tasmania, signed the Appropriation Bill in tho form in wisieh it passed tho House of Assembly, ignoring amendments which tho Legislative Council sought to have adopted. Correspondence passed between the Licut.-Governor (Sir Herbert Nieholls) and the Secretary of State for Colonies regarding the constitutional crisis which arose in consequence of the amendment by the Legislative Council of tho Appropriation Bill. On November 2")t!i his Excelloncy cabled to the Colonial Secretary, informing him that a constitutional crisis was in course of development. The Legislative Ceuncil had reduced practically every item in the schedule to tho Appropriation Bill, and, so far as could bo seen, the Council intended to claim equal rights with the Assembly on matters of finance, tho indications being that the State would bo left without supply. The Legislative Council thus could make it impossible for tho Government to be carried en. On November 20th his Excellency despatched a cablegram to tho Colonial Secretary notifying him that if the decision were left to him he would decide that tho Council's amendments were unconstitutional nullities, and that he would assent to the Bill as pasForl by the Assembly, ignoring the Council's" amendments. His Excellency added that the Under-Secretary had refused somo payments owing to want of supplies. An urgent cablegram went to the Colonial Office on November '2Bth, requesting a quick- derision, and on the folowing dav his Excellency was informed by the Secretary of State for the Colonics that tho Colonial. Office could not express an opinion on the question a> to what powers the. legislative Council rtosscssed in regard to money hills, but that if his Excellency acted mi Ihe advice of the law Ministers the j-c.irwnsihiliiv would rest exclusively with them, and no question could arise as the constitutionality of his action. The appointment of. a select committee from tho House to draw up a statement for nrossntafion to_ the Colonial Secretary through the Lieut.Governor was agreed to.