NEW SILVER COINAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 13

NEW SILVER COINAGE

NECESSARY LEGISLATION

PROVISIONS OF BILL

AUTHORITY FOR ISSUE

[BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday

Sseking to replace Imperial legislation by local legislation in anticipation of the issue of the special New Zealand coinage, the Coinage Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day and read a first time. In the .Finance Bill last year, a clause was enacted giving preliminary power to the Government to arrange for the minting of New Zealand's own silver coinage. The Coinage Bill is a machinery measure designed to give effect to - this purpose. The bill sets out specifications regarding the size, weight and fineness of the new coins. The specifications will in each case be the same as those of the present English coins, but there will be distinctive designs.

The bill empowers the Minister of Finance to issue silver coins of the following denominations: —Crown, halfcrown, florin, shilling, sixpence, and threepence. He may also issue bronze or cupro-nickel coins of such denominations as may from time to time be determined by proclamation. The cost of all coins made and issued is to be paid out. of the Public Account. The usual provisions aro made regarding the legal tender of the different coins. The new coins will be legal tender at once. The present coins will remain legal tender until a date to be fixed by proclamation. The Governor-General is empowered by proclamation to determine the dimensions and designs of any New Zealand coins, to determine the weight below which a coin is not to be current, and to call in any coin of any date or denomination. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent— Egmont) asked the Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates, in the House today if provision was made in the bill for the retirement of English money and also for the disposal of profits from coining. He also asked what was to be done about Australian silver which was still legal tender here and was circulating in largo quantities. Mr. Coates said the bill was just a machinery bill giving effect to the legislation passed last year. On the second reading of the bill, he would he glad to give an outline of how it was proposed to retire coins other than those of New Zealand design. JURIES OF FOUR CERTAIN CIVIL ACTIONS

MR. SCHRAMM'S PROPOSALS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday Introducing the Juries Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr. F. W. Schramm (Labour — Auckland East) said it proposed certain alterations in the rules relating to juries in civil cases. It provided that, where the amount claimed did not exceed £SOO, either party might obtnin a jury of four by giving due notice to that effect. If the amount in dispute exceeded £SOO, the action would he tried before a Judge and jury of 12 unless both parties agreed to a jury of four or to having no jury at all. The bill also provided for selecting special juries, drawn from persons engaged in the occupation or trade in 'connection with which the plaintiff was ■injured, to hear actions for personal injuries founded upon breach of contract. The bill was read a first time. NATURALISATION LAW DISCUSSIONS WITH BRITAIN NEED FOR UNIFORMITY [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday On the ground that the whole matter was at present the subject of discussion between the New Zealand and British Governments, the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Internal Affairs, asked Mr. P. Eraser (Labour —Wellington Central) in the House to-day to report progress with his British Nationality and Status of Aliens (in New Zealand) Amendment Bill. The bill was at the Committee stage. The Minister said the Government had submitted recommendations on the subject and had asked that immediately the corresponding British bill had been passed, it be sent on so that the New Zealand Government could bring its legislation into harmony. It was necessary to have uniformity in matters of naturalisation. He could not support the bill at present, in view of the fact that the Government had the matter in hand with its law draftsman and correspondence with the British authorities was taking place.

Mr. Fraser said he realised that without the co-operation of the Government and the Minister the bill would have no chanco of getting on the Statute Book. At tho same time, if he agreed to report progress and ask for leave to sit again, he did not want to be considered as agreeing to the principle that tho Now Zealand law of naturalisation must conform to the British law. Parliaments had power to pass any law they liked in connection with naturalisation.

The Minister gave his assurance tl»t as soon ps negotiations with Britain had been completed, there would be no delay in bringing down a bill on tho subject. He hoped that it might bo introduced this session.