SIR BRAMPTON GUEDON (Norfolk, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the powers of the Commonwealth of Australia, with reference to currency and coinage, will include the right of issuing subsidiary coins, the seigniorage thereon forming part of the revenue of the Commonwealth; and, if so, what will be the financial loss to the Exchequer.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe powers of the Commonwealth Parliament as regards currency and coinage will be the same as those of the Dominion Parliament and the Legislatures of other self-governing colonies. The question of subsidiary coinage will be one for arrangement with Her Majesty's Government. As to the second part of the hon. Member's question, I am informed by my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the profits on the Imperial silver supplied to the Australian colonies amounted to about £30,000 on the average of the last five years.