PRINTING OF NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 601, 3 November 1932, Page 15

PRINTING OF NOTES.

Put Advertisements on Back, Says M.P. MR MASON'S CURRENCY BILL. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, November 3. A novel method of overcoming Mr Speaker’s objections to his Currency Bill on the grounds that an appropriation would be involved in the cost of printing bank notes was suggested by Mr H. G. R. Mason (Labour, Auckland Suburbs) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Mason’s remedy was to permit an advertisement to be printed on the backs of bank notes making the charge for this service to cover the cost of printing. In ruling the measure out of order, Mr Speaker said that the Bill would affect the public revenues. Mr Mason submitted that the Bill did not involve the State in liability.

Mr Speaker said that the Bill provided for bank notes issued under its authority being used as legal tender, and thus became a liability on the State. The issuing of notes alone would involve the State in heavy expense. “ I would undertake to do it without any expense to the Crown,” replied Mr Mason.

Mr Speaker: You have made no provision for that. (Laughter.) “ I would be prepared to pay heavily for the privilege of printing them,” rejoined Mr Mason. The Crown could make thousands a year by selling the rights to advertise on the notes.” Mr P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central) raised a point of order on the grounds that it had been the custom to allow Bills involving appropriation to go to a committee if the appropriation was only incidental and not the principal purpose of the Bill. Mr Speaker, in rejecting that contention, said that the mere printing of the notes was not incidental, but essential to the measure. He could not uphold the contention that the cost might be covered by printing advertisements on the back of the notes. As these notes were to be legal tender, and could be tendered in payment of taxes, the State would be involved in liability. He asked the Acting-Leader of the House (Mr Coates) if he had any objection to the Bill being read a second time. Mr Coates said that he had no objection to the Bill being read a second time, but as it would affect the currency system of the whole country it could not be read pro forma and referred to a committee.

At this stage the time for the adjournment was reached, and the discussion automatically lapsed.