The purpose of this Bill is also made clear from the long title. The purpose is to delete "the provisions now contained therein as to the withholding by the Representative of the Crown of the King's assent to Bills and the reservation of Bills for the signification of the King's pleasure." The power of preserving and withholding is discretionary, as the Constitution stands, with the Governor-General. Legally, according to the Constitution, he can withhold or reserve Bills, but the constitutional fact is that he cannot. There is a clash there between his legal powers as indicated in the Constitution and the accepted constitutional fact. As a matter of history, no Bill has ever been withheld or reserved by the Governor-General since the foundation of the Free State, so that the object of this Bill, again, is merely to bring into accord with constitutional fact the legal position as it appears in the Constitution. I do not think that it is necessary to say anything more about the Bill. I am convinced that, like the previous Bill, it will be accepted unanimously by the House.
In Committee on Finance. - Constitution (Amendment No. 21) Bill, 1933—Second Stage.
Question proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
Question put and agreed to.
Committee Stage fixed for Wednesday, 11th October.