CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2658, 24 August 1871, Page 2

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.

Tbo following is the text of the resolutions tabled by Mr Macmulrew in the House of Representatives on the 17th inst. j Mr Macanokew to move, — 1. In the opinion of this House.it is expedient that the Provincial Legislatures and County Council of the Middle Island be abolished, and one Provincial Legislature substituted in lieu thereof. 2. That such Legislature shall consist of a Lieutenant-Governor and Provincial Council, both elected by the people. 3. That the Lieutenant Governor shall be elected for years, subject to the approval of the Governor of the Colony. He shall he liable at any time to be removed by the Go! vernor on the repr--. cut itiou of two-thirds of the members of the Provincial Coun oil. He shall have power to die solve the Provinc al Council when he shall see fit; and sh 11 exercise all the functions which devolve upon Superintendents of Provinces by virtue of “ The New Zealand Constitution Act.”

4. The first Provincial Council shall consist of the 45 members who have been elec* ted to represent the constituencies of the Middle Island in this House. The duration of said Council shall be five yeafs. 5. The Provincial Legislature constituted as aforesaid shall have full and absolute con l stitueut powers of legislation upon all and every subject affecting the peace, order, and good government of the Middle Island, save and excepting the following, v;z.: (Ist.) The imposition or regulation of Cust iras l.'uties. (2nd.) The establishment or abolition of Civil or Criminal Courts, or alteration o f the Ciiminal Law, (3rd.) The regulation and establishment of postal and telegraphic communication. (4th.) Regula'mg the laws of banknip' cy and insolvency. (sth.) Regulating marriages. (6th.) Affecting lands of the Crown. (7th.) Regula*ing the course of inheritance of real or p rsoual property, or affecting the laws relating to wills. Any such legislation shall not be subject to be contro led or superseded by any act of the General Assembly < f New Zealand ; provided always that such legislation shall not be repugnant to the law of England : provided also that the Govenor of the Colony shall have the power of vetoing all such legislation at any time within two months of the date of the passing thereof. 6. All public revenue in the Middle Island, from whatever source derived, shall be ah initio the revenue of the Province, and shall ha appropriated by the Provincial Legislature j subject, nevertheless, as a first charge, to such contributions in respect of the general liabilities of the Colony as the Colonial Legislature may from time to time determine. 7. All expenditure to ho incurred in the Middle Island by means of ‘‘The Immigration and public works Loan Act. 1870 ” shall be determined and administered by the Provincial Legislature ; and the proceeds of such loan applicable to the Midtie Island shall he lodged in the Provi icial Treasury. 8. The vari us existing Acts regulating the sa'e, letting, and occupation of the Waste Lands of the Crown in the Middle Island shall he repealed, and one uniform Act suhstitued ; such Act to be based u; on resolutions of the Provincial Legislature. 9. There shall be a dist : n t account kept of the territorial revenue derived within the limits of the thiee original Middle Is'and Provinces, and such revenue shall he expe idecl within the limits of such Province in such manner as the Provincial Legislature may dcte:miue. 10. The proceeds of all lands which have been reserved for educational purposes, within the three original Provinces of the Middle Island, shall be devoted exclusively to the support of schools within the limits of the respective Provinces in which the land is situated.

11. The Colonial l egislature of New Zealand, as at present constituted, shall he remodelled, and shall consLt of (1.) His Excellency the Governor. (2.) A legislative Council of 20 members, one half of whom shall bo elected by the Provincial Council of the Middle Island, ami one ha'f by the Provincial Councls of the North Island, in such proportions as shall be hereafter deti mined The numbers of such legislative Council shall be elected for ten yeais, and none shall be eligible for election unless possessed of pros city to the value of at least L3,0i)0 free of all encumbrance. (3.) A House of representatives consisting of members, to be eh eted by the people of both Islands in proportion to population. 12. As re-pects the Middle Island, the action of the Colonial Legislature, shall be confined exclusively to qne lions of federal concern, and to those subjects enumerated in No, 5 of.the foregoing resolutions as being ultra vires of the Provincial Legislature. 13. That a respectful add re s be transmitted to His Excellency the Governor, to the effect that he may bo pleased to cause the f irtfcoing resolution to be rmbolied in the form pf a statute to be submitted tp the Legislature.