ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S OPINION ON THE POWER TO ABOLISH PROVINCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4487, 6 August 1875, Page 2

ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S OPINION ON THE POWER TO ABOLISH PROVINCES.

The following correspondence was laid on the table of the House yesterday : “Wellington, August 2, 1875. “ Sir, —A statement has been made by Sir George Grey, the member for Auckland City West, in his place iu Parliament, that you have given an opinion as to the power of the General Assembly to abolish the provinces different from that given by you as AttorneyGeneral on the Ist December, 1871, and laid on the table of the House this session.

“As the Government is unable to find any such opinion on record, I shall be much obliged if you will be good enough to say whether you ever did give such different opinion ; and if you did, on what occasion and to whom such opinion was given, and whether it was given before or after the passing of the 31 and 32 Viet. “ The Government assumes that you will have no objection to this letter and your reply being laid on the table of the House.—l have, &0., “ Charles C. Bowen. “ His Honor the Chief Justice.” The following is Mr. Prendorgast’s reply : “ Wellington, August 2. “My dear Mr. Bowen, —I am not conscious of having ever entertained or expressed, while Attorney-General, an opinion on the effect of the 31 and 32 Viet., c. 92, other than that it gave to the New Zealand Legislature or recognised that that Legislature had the power to abolish any or all the provinces. I feel sure, therefore, that Sir G. Grey must have been misinformed.—l have, &c., “ (Signed) James Phkndergast. “ The Hon. C. Bowen.”