New Zealand Volume 3; Further Papers Relative to the Affairs of New Zealand (in Continuation of Papers Presented 14th August, 1850) Presented to Both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty, 7th August, 1851 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 Excerpt: ...the Legislatures now to be established ought to have the power of amending their own constitutions, by resolving either of these single Houses of Legislature into two Houses. Whatever the result may be in either of the four colonies, Your Majesty will thus at least have the satisfaction of knowing that free scope had been given to die influence of public opinion in them all, and that this constitutional question has been finally adjusted in each, in accordance with that opinion. "For the same reason we think it desirable that the Legislatures now to be created should be intrusted with the power of making any other amendments in their own constitution which time and experience may show to be requisite. We are aware of no sufficient cause for withholding this power, and we believe that the want of it in the other British colonies has often been productive of serious inconvenience." It is only desired that this power of amendment of the constitution of the colony should be exercised upon a vote of a majority of two-thirds of the whole number of members of the New Zealand Legislature. The Other reasons which lead to the request that the Governor only should exercise a veto power on local questions are strengthened by the fact, that he necessarily possesses much more knowledge of their probable utility than any servant of the Crown residing in England can possibly do; and his immediate confirmation of or vetoing any local enactment would prevent that injurious doubt and delay which results from the necessity oUierwise existing of transmitting an Act to England, and receiving an answer after the lapse of such a period of time as may have completely altered the circumstances which led to its having been passed. The recommendation contained in the 7th res...