POLITICAL CRISIS.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 131, 30 November 1904, Page 5

POLITICAL CRISIS.

<» NEW SOUTH WALES MONEY BILLS. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE. [press association.] SYDNEY, 29th November. A crisis occurred in the State Parliament to-night over the action of the Legislative Council in amending the Stamp Duty Bill. The Government was irritated in consequence of the Council amending the Harbour Rates Bill last week, the measure being regarded as a money Bill. The representative of the Government in the Council has secured the adjournment of the Stamp Bill foi a week to enable the Government to consider the situation. A CLAUSE STRUCK OUT. THE RIGHT TO AMEND MONEY BILLS. (Received November 30, 10.9 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Legislative Council, considering a clause in the Stamp Duty Bill ambiguous, struck it out. The Premier, says the alteration involves £90,000 per annum. Leading members of the Council insist on their right to amend money Bills. The New South Wales Legislative Council consists of about sixty members nominated for life by the Goverm-r. It is a singular omission in the Constitution Act of 1855 that no definition is given of the relative powers of the Legislative Assembly. Such is the fact, but little" inconvenience has arisen thereby, 'sirce by common consent it hos been agreed that the precedents regulating the proceedings and relations, inter se, of the two Houses of tho Imperial Parliament shall be followed, so far as applicable, in New South Wales. The Constitution Act provides that all money Bills shall be introduced in the Lower House only. The important rule of the House of Commons affirmed two hundred years ago and constantly enforced ever since, that " all aids and supplies, and ■aids to His Majesty in Parliament, are the sole gift of the Commons, and it is the un- 1 doubted right of the Commons to direct, limit, and appoint in such Bills the ends, purposes, considerations, conditions, limitations, and qualifications of such grants, which ought not to be changed or altered by the House of Lords," is also held to be in force as regards the Parliament of the State, and has generally been recognised and acted upon.