1184 ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATION [PART V
Governor-General the royal prerogative of coinage, and that
it fixed without the previous consent of the Imperial Govern-
ment the value in Canada of certain foreign coins, thus up-
setting the control of that Government regarding currency.
Other Bills were passed in 1851 and 1853 dealing with
the subject, but there was no further infringement of the
prerogative, and the Bills were not to take effect until
after the royal sanction had been obtained. The Coinage
Acts of the Dominion enacted in 1871 (c. 4), and con-
solidated and amended as Rew. Stat., 1906, c. 25, recognized
the royal prerogative, and provided for the issue of a royal
proclamation fixing the nominal rates at which coins struck
for use in Canada were current. By an Act 9 & 10 Edw. VIL
c. 14 the whole affair is now placed on a statutory basis, and
the Governor in Council is given the royal authority.
In 1866 the Governor of Queensland was pressed by his
ministers to consent to the issue of an inconvertible paper
currency, but the Governor declined to do so, though there
was a financial crisis, suggesting instead the issue of treasury
bills coupled with the introduction of fresh taxation. This
course his ministers refused to accept, and tendered their
resignations, though he pointed out that he was acting in ac-
cordance with the royal instructions, which, as then worded,
forbade the assent of the Governor to the passing of any Bill
making paper legal tender. He agreed, however, to let them
introduce the Bill into Parliament, while he undertook to
communicate with the Secretary of State, but as they insisted
on resigning he sent for Mr. Herbert, who took office, and
introduced a Bill allowing the issue of treasury bills for
£300,000, which was promptly passed. Afterwards certain
of the colonists petitioned for Sir George Bowen’s recall
because of his action in this case, but he was upheld by the
Secretary of State.?
In the Newfoundland crisis of 1895 the Governor tele-
! Canada Legislative Assembly Journals, 1851, App. Y.Y.; 1852-3,
App. P.; Sess. Pap., 1870, No. 40. Cf. 31 Vict. c. 45.
* Queensland Legislative Assembly Journals, 1866, p. 952; Votes, 1866,
pp. 437-47 ; 1867, pp. 81, 83; Rusden, Australia, iii. 598, 599.
