MR MACANDREW'S SEPARATION SCHEME.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2302, 19 August 1881, Page 3

MR MACANDREW'S SEPARATION SCHEME.

[PRSSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.] WELLINGTON, August 18.

In the House to-day Mr Macandrew gave notice to move, on going into committee of supply : (1) That with a view to greater efficiency and economy in the Government of New Zealand, it is expedient that the colony should be divided into two distinct provinces, separated by Cook's Straits ; (2) that each of the two provinces shall have a legislation, to bo composed, in tho first instanco, of the mombers of the House of Representatives in each island, who shall be elected to serve in the next Colonial Parliament, and of a President, to be elected from the said mombers ; (3) the President shall bo the chief executivo officer of tho province, and an integral part of the said L"gislature. He shall possess the same functions in relation to the Provincial Council as does the Governor towards the House of Bepresentatives ; (4) that osch o? the Provincial Legislatures shall have full, independent, and constituent powers of legislation and administration as regards every matter and thing affecting tho peace, order, and good government of the province, excepting es hereinafter provided. It shall not be lawful for any Provincial Legislature to make or ordain any law or ordinance for any of the purposes hereinafter mentioned, that is to Bay— (1) Tho imposition or regulation of duties of Customs to be imposed On tho importation or exportation of any goods at any port or place in tho province ; (2) tho establishment or abolition of any Court of Judicature of civil or criminal jurisdiction, except Courts for tryiDg and punishing such offences aa by the law of New Zealand are or may be made punishable in a Bummary way, or altering tho constitution, jurisdiction, or practice of any such Court except as aforesaid j (3) regulating any of the current coin or tho issuo of any bills, notes, or other paper currency ; (4) regulating the weights and measures to bo used in tho province or any part thereof j (5) regulating the post-office and tho carriage of letters within the provinco ; (6) establishing, altering, or repealing lawa relating to bankruptcy or insolvency ; (7) tho maintenance and erection of beacons and lighthouses on the coast ; (8) the imposition of any dues or other charges on shipping at any port or harbor in tno province ; (9), regulating marriages; (10), ir.ilicting any disabilities or restrictions upon porsons of the Native race, to which persons of European birth would not also bo subjected ; (11) altering in any way tho criminal law ot New Zealand, and except so far as relates to tho trial and punishment of such offences aa are now, or may by tho criminal laws of New Zealand, bo punishable in a summary way as aforesaid ; (12) regulating tho course of inheritance of real or personal property, or affecting the law relative to wills. The General Assembly of Now Zealand shall until otherwise determined continue as at present constituted, and shall have exclueivo power and authority to deal with those subjects hereinbefore mentioned as ultra vires of provincial legislatures, and with no other. The taxing functions of the General Assembly shall be limited to the raising of money for tho following purros.'s, that is Jo say—payment of interest and sinking fund of the colonial debt here before incurred. Cost of the colonial legislature, as also any deficiency which may arise in respect of the maintenance of the Supremo Court, postal, telegraphic and lighthouses services. With tho exception of the Supreme Court, postal, telegraph, and lighthouses services, tho duty of providing for and administering all other dopartmentß of the Government shall devolve upon the provincial legislatures within their respective provinces, and all Government railways already constructed and in course of construction, all school buildings and buildings not required for Colonial Government purposes, as also the waste lat ds of the Crown, and the revonue derived therefrom from each province shall become the property of such province ; provided always that the waste lands shall bo held as subject to the due fulfilment of ail existing contracts and engagements in respect thereof. That tho Government bo requested (during tho recess to cause a Bill to bo prepared) to give effoot to tho foregoing proposals, such Bill to be submitted to tho next Parliament within ono week of tho commencement of tho session.