THIS ELECTIVE COUNCIL BILL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1790, 15 November 1879, Page 3

THIS ELECTIVE COUNCIL BILL.

[By Telegraph.] The following is a summary of this Bill: Clause 2. There shall bo within the colony of New Zealand a Legislative Council in lieu end place of the Legislative Council theretofore existing, the members of which shall be elected by the electors of said colony. 3. Such Legislative Council shall consist of twenty-seven members, of whom twenty-four shall be Europeans and three Maoris. Twelve of the European members of such Council shall be elected for North Island and twelve for the Middle and South Islands, and two Maori members shall bo elected for the North Island, and one for the Middle and South Islands. 4. For the purposes of this Act tho North Island shall constitute on electoral district, and tho Middle and South Islands another electoral district. 5. All Europeans, members for the said constituencies respectively, shall bo elected by Europeans of tho respective districts who arc legally qualified to vote for members of the House of Representatives, and tho Maori members of said districts shall in like manner be elected by tho Maori electors who may by law be entitled to vote for tho return of members of the House of Representatives. 6. Tho elected Legislative Council ohull continue for three years frem day of return of the writs for closing such Council, and no longer. 7. The Governor shall cause the first writs for the eleetion of tho members of the said Legislative Council to bo issued on tho first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighty, and upon tho expiration of tho said period of continuance of Legislative Council tho Governor shall cause writs to bo issued for election of members of succeeding Legislative Council, and so cn from time to time to time as the period of the continuance of such Legislative Council expires. 8. When and so often as a vacancy shall occur in any scat inside the Legislative

Council, the said Legislative Council shall address tho Governor stating the existence of such vacancy and the cause thereof, and tho Governor upon receiving such address shall causa a writ to issue for supplying such vacancy. 9, The said Legislative Council shall immediately upon their first meeting proceed to choice of one of their members as their speaker during the continuance of said House, and in the case of vacancy by death, resignation, or otherwise, then and so often as same shall happen the choice shall be repeated as aforesaid. 10. The said Legislative Council at its first sitting, and from time to time afterwards as there shall be occasion shall prepare and adopt standing rules and orders. (11) The said Legislative Council shall have all the privileges, powers, and duties, and shall hold the same position in all respects as present Legislative Council now possess and occupy. (12.) Said Legislative Council shall, nntil provision be made otherwise in that behalf by law, be judges without appeal of validity of the election of each member thereof.