APPOINTMENT INVALID

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19106, 29 August 1936, Page 15

APPOINTMENT INVALID

RESERVE BANK DIRECTOR

FORET ONER BV uIRTU NOVEL POINT ARISES (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this 'lay. An interesting legal position ait noting the eligibility of one of the Government’s recent, appointments to the Reserve Bank has arisen. It lias been pointed out. that- Mr. Mark Silvcrstone. of Dunedin, was horn in Russian Poland in DU'-’, and although he went to London at an early age he did not heroine mi!’.utilised until he was a resident of N‘ = w Zealand, his naturalisation papers as a, British subject, being ink out in 11)0.'.. The Reserve Bank Act of 1 D:t:;. in clause .".2, set out the qualifications of a. director, stating that, no person shall bo qualified ‘‘who (a) is not a British subject hv birth.” When the Act was amended this vear, no change was made in this statement of directors’ qualifications, so that the situation appears to require an amendment which will validate Mr. Si Ivors tone ’s appointment. Though the present instance is not exactly similar, it recalls the difficulty which arose in connection with me

Government’s iirst appointments to tue Legislative Council, when the lion. Connolly, an employee of the Railway Department, was included, in contravention of the law which prevents a member of either .Mouse from holding mi office of profit under the Crown at the time of his election or appointment. A special validating Act was passed to validate Mr. Connolly’s appointment. When the attention of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. .J. Savage, was called to Mr. Silvt’rslone’s -position, he replied that lie had not previously been aware of it. and indicated Chav, if necessiirv there would be validating legislation to maintain the appointment. ‘‘‘Rather than make people fit the law,” declared Mr. Savage, ‘‘we will make a law to lit the people. Mr. Silvcrstone .was appointed because of his qualifications. He understands the tit o net ary system inside and out.”