THE ABOLITION OF PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 198, 22 August 1871, Page 2

THE ABOLITION OF PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

Mr. Macandrew has given notice that he will move in the House of Representatives — 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 tbe Lieutenant-Governor 6hall be elected for years, subject to the approval of the Governor of the Colony. He shall be liable at any time to be removed by the Governor on the representation of two-thirds of the members of the Provincial Council. He shall have power to dissolve the Provincial Council when he shall see fit; and shall 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 35 members, who have been elected to represent the constituencies of the Middle Island in this House. The duration of said Council shall be five years. 5. The Provincial Legislature constituted as aforesaid shall have full and absolute constituent powers of legislation upon all and every subject affecting the peace, order, and good government of the Middle Island, save and excepting the following, viz.: — (lst.) The imposition of Customs duties. (2nd.) The establishment or abolition of Civil or Criminal Courts, or alteration of the Criminal Law. (3rd.) The regulation and establishment of postal and telegraphic communication. (4th.) Regulating the Law of Bankruptcy and Insolvency. (sth.) Regulating marriages. (6th.) Affecting lands of the Crown. (7th.) Regulating the course of inheritance of real or personal property, or affecting the laws relating to wills. Any such legislation shall not ,be subject to be controlled or superseded by any act of the General Assembly of New Zealand ; provided always that such legislation shall not be repugnant to the law of England: provided also that the Governor of the Colony shall have the power of vetoing all such legislations 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 be appropriated by the Provincial Legislature ; 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 be 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 Middle Island shall be lodged iD the Provincial Treasury. 8. The various existing acts regulating the sale, letting, and occupation of the waste lands of the Crown in the Middle Island shall be repealed, and one uniform act substituted ; such act to be based upon resolutions of the Provincial Legislature. 9. There shall be a distinct account kept of tho territorial revenue derived within the limits of the three original Middle Island Provinces, and such revenue shall be expended within the limits of such Province in such manner as the Provincial Legislature may determine. 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 Legislature of New Zealand, as at present constituted, shall be remodelled and shall consist of — (1.) His Excellency the Governor. (2.) A Legislative Council of 20 members, one-half of whom shall be elected by the Provincial Councils of the Middle Island, and one-half by the Provincial Councils of the North Islands, in such proportions as shall be determined. The members of such Legislative Council shall be elected for ten years, and none shall be eligible for . election '•!"'.. unless possessed of property vto the value of at least £3,000 free of encumbrance. ;...: (3,) A /House, of Kspresentatiyes •v- :■; • -consisting. of ./ .members, Who ; :* elected'by'th'e' peopleof both Is- • lands in proportion to population.

12. As respects the Middle Island, the action of the Colonial Legislature shall be confined exclusively to questions of federal concern, and to those subjects enumerated in No. 5 of the foregoing resolutions as heing ultra vires of the Provincial Legislature. 13. That a respectful address he transmitted to his Excellency the Governor, to the effect that he may be pleased to cause the foregoing resolutions to be embodied in the form of a statute to be submitted to the Legislature.

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