How the Governor's Assent is Given.

Manawatu Herald, 21 September 1893, Page 2

How the Governor's Assent is Given.

His Excellency the Governor having been advised by Ministers to assent to the Electoral Bill, that measure was presented yesterdaj' morning by Mr L. Stowe, Clerk of Parliaments, to Lord Glasgow, who signed it, tha Bill thus becoming law. When a Bill is passed by both Houses of the Legislature, the Clerk of Parliaments reads it to discover any literal errors. A copy of the Bill is then sent to the Governor, who forwards it to the AttorneyGeneral in order that he may examine it to see that it contains nothing oontrary to the law of England, or nothing which would entitle it to be reserved for the Queen's assent. If the AttorneyGeneral is satisfied on these points, he signs the following certificate : — 1 1 hereby certify that, in my opinion, the Bill, the short title whereof is above set forth, contains nothing which is repugnant to the law of England, or which requires that His Excellency the Governor should withhold his assent therefrom in \irtne of the Boyal Instructions of the 26th day of March, 1892.' The Premier then signs a form • respectfully advising His Excellency to assent to the Bill,' and the Clerk of Parliaments presents to the Governor three copies of the Bill, printed on parchment, Each of these His Excellency signs in the presence of the clerk, thus giving the vice-regal assent by which the measure becomes the law of the land, and is placed on the Statute Book. His Excellency informs both Houses by message that he has assented. The course here described was followed in regard to the Electoral Bill. After a measure has been carried in both Houses, it passes out of the charge of Ministers entirely, and is in the custody of the Clerk of Parliaments. Of the three parchment copies, one is kept by that officer, another is lodged in the Supreme Court of New Zealand, and the third is sent to England to the Imperial authorities, Mr Stowe has under his charge a copy of every Act passed in New Zealand since the colony obtained responsible government. An amending Bill, correcting errors in the new Act. and providing also that electoral rights shall be given to shearers, is to be introduced by the Government. — N.Z, Times.