CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1223, 27 October 1874, Page 2

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.

The following is a fullfir telegraphic summmary, than that previously published, of the petition drawn up by Sir George Grey against the abolitioa of provinces : '* That as the Governor exercises powers belonging to the Queen by her prerogative as powers conferred by the Constitution Act, any action in violation of them would be unconstitutional and in violation of Acts of Parliament and the liberties of the people, and hurtful to the interest of her Majesty's dominions. That tho New Zealand Constitution Act establishes four estates, namely, the Crown or Go« vernor, the Legislative Council, the House of Representatives, the Provincial Governments, which have no powers but which are derived from that Act. All these are carefully balanced to form one whole, which is tho representative Government of tlio country. The Governor is bound by his duty to pro'ecteaeh of these estates in their powers and privileges. There was a fear that the Legislative Council which least truly represented tho people would strive to destroy those bodies which were most, truly representative and independent. For many years the people had returned reprei sentatiyes to exercise tlpise powers, conferred by the Constitution Act, nor could the electors confer any other power on them, and any other powers they might claim and assert would be.

absolutely voic 1 . The petition then proceeds to set forth the necessity for, and the many advantages derived from Pioviiicialism, in making local laws, voting the expenditure of money and training the population to political discussion. The petitioner: hoped to see the whole English speaking race hereafter welded together by the Provincial or Federal system which would prove a solution of many difficulties now pxisting. In support of this, the petitioner instances Germany, Italy, Canada, and says that her Majesty's late Government ordered the same to ho introduced into South Africa. Local legislatures were very useful to the people for guarding against the unjust alienation of public lands. Because the General Assembly was composed of three estates which were imposed upon the country under Act of Parliament in which the inhabitants were not represented; that the colonists were only directly represented in one branch of the Legislature, and were subjected a constitution repugnant to that of Great Britain. The British Parliament placed it beyond the power of the Assembly to destroy the provinces, and ought now to protect them, i He was credibly informed that one of the chief objects of the Premier in going to England was to get the Constitution Act altered to enable the Assembly to abolish, wholly or partly, the existing Provincial Governments. The Imperial Government ought not to be drawn into these local questions unnecessarily, or unless it was seen that the Provincial Councils passed Acts destroying the representative institutions. Be hoped that fill the papers connected with the subject of inducing Parliament to alter the constitution will be laid before the Assembly without delay, otherwise it would be impossible to prevent Parliament taking a s'ep hurriedly which the colony would afterwards regret. He believed there was no instance, except by tyrrany or revolution, of freely elected legislatures being swept away without the consent of each of such legislatures, and to do so in this instance would be a breach of faith and a bad public example to the whole empire. He hoped that nis Excellency would prevent the momentous consequence of this step by summoning the General Assembly to meet with the least possible dehiy in order that all the necessary information may bo afforded to the inhabitants of the colonv. That this petition be sent to her Majesty to be laid before the Parliament and that his Excellency do immediately send a telegraphic message to her Majesty's Government pointing out that at present there is no one constitutionally, or in point of law, qualified to negotiate for the abolition of Provincial institutions, and therefore to do so would be violation o! the rights and liberties of the people and a great public error, as there are proper and constitutional means of settling the whole question."