RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 31, 26 August 1871, Page 14

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

Mr Macandrew moved last night in the House of Representatives the following resolutions : , . _ 1. In the opinion of this House, it is expedient that the Provincial Legislatures and County Council of the Micidle Island be abolished, and one Provincial Legislature be substituted in lieu thereof. 2. That such legislature shall consist ot 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 be liable at any time to be removed by the Governor on the representation ot two thirds of themembersof the Provincial Council. Heshalll 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 the 45 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 : (Ist.) The imposition or regulation 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. (6tli.) 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 Any such legislation shall not be subject to be controlled or superseded by any act of the General Assembly of New Zealand: Provided always that such legislation shall not be repugnant to the law of England : Provided also that the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 legislation at any time within two months ot the date of the passing thereof. 6. All public revenue in the Middle Island, from whatever source derived, shall be ao 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 in 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 ot the 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 nave 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 re modelled and shall consist of—l. His Excellency the Governor. 2. A Legislative Council of twenty 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 Island, in such proportions as shall be hereafter determined. The members of such Legislative Council shall be elected for ten years, and none shall be eligible for election unless possessed of property to the value of at least £3OOO free of all encumbrance. 3. A House of Representatives consisting of Members, to be elected by the people of both islands 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 being ultra vires of the Provincial Legislature. 13. That a respectful address be transmitted to his Excellency the Governor, to the effect that he may be pleased to cause the foregoing Resolution to be embodied in the form of a statute to be submitted to the Legislature.