Write short notes on any two of the following: (i) Bill of exchange and the various parties to it. (ii) Retirement of bills of exchange. OR What are…

(i) A bill of exchange is an instrument in writing containing an unconditional order, signed by the maker, directing a certain person to pay a certain sum of money to or to the order of certain person or to the bearer of the instrument. When such an order is accepted by the drawee on the face of the order itself, it becomes a valid bill of exchange. There are three parties to a bill of exchange: (i) The drawer, who draws the bill, that is, the creditor to whom the money is owing; (ii) The drawee, the person to whom the bill is addressed or on whom it is drawn and who accepts the bill that is, the debtor; and (iii) The payee, the person who is to receive the payment. The drawer in many cases is also the payee. (ii) Retirement of bills of exchange: Sometimes, the acceptor of a bill of exchange has spare funds much before the maturity date of the bill of exchange accepted by him. He may, therefore, desire to pay the bill before the due date. In such a circumstance, the acceptor shall ask the payee or the holder of the bill to accept cash before the maturity date. If the payee agrees, the acceptor may be allowed a rebate or discount on such early payment. This rebate is generally the interest at an agreed rate for the period between the date of payment and date of maturity. The interest/rebate/ discount becomes the income of the acceptor and expense of the payee. It is a consideration for premature payment. When a bill is paid before due date, it is said to be retired under rebate. OR / Alternative Solution: Advantages of Subsidiary Books The use of subsidiary books affords the under mentioned advantages: (i) Division of work: Since in the place of one journal there will be so many subsidiary books, the accounting work may be divided amongst a number of clerks. (ii) Specialization and efficiency: When the same work is allotted to a particular person over a period of time, he acquires full knowledge of it and becomes efficient in handling it. Thus the accounting work will be done efficiently. (iii) Saving of the time: Various accounting processes can be undertaken simultaneously because of the use of a number of books. This will lead to the work being completed quickly. (iv) Availability of information: Since a separate register or book is kept for each class of transactions, the information relating to each transactions will be available at one place. (v) Facility in checking: When the trial balance does not agree, the location of the error or errors is facilitated by the existence of separate books. Even the commission of errors and frauds will be checked by the use of various subsidiary books.