SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 877, 3 November 1874, Page 3

SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.

It is reported cn good authority that Sir George Grey intends submitting certain proposals for public consideration shortly, in view of the proposed constitutional changes. The details are not yet known, but the following are some of the main features : A Council of from 20 to 30 members to be substituted for the present lfouse of Assembly, the President of the Council to fuliil the duties, and have the powers of Governors ; also to appoint an executive who shall not have a vote in the Council. Party government would thus be abolished. Instead of a Governor, a Secretary of Stat* 1 to be appointed bv the Colony, to live in London, and to be placed in direct communication with the Queen on all New Zealand affairs. Matters of rare Imperial concern only to he submitted to the Imperial Cabinet. The powers of the Provincial Governments and Councils to be enlarged and defined within those limits. The Provincial Governments to have perfect independence ; all internal affairs to be under their control, the Federal Council dealing with those of General concern alone, such as Customs, post services. <fcc. The rumor is at present confined to a few persons, and the details of the scheme are not known, but those acquainted with the plan, and who are in Sir George's confidence express themselves struck by its simplicity and comprehensiveness, as well as by its grandeur from an Imperial point of view; being calculated to bind the Colonies more closely together, and impart more solidity to the Empire by laying the foundation of a great Knilish Confederation in the future. Sir George has l»een for some time quietly corresponding with leading men in England and Australia on the subject, and the proposals will, it is said, meet with warm support in various influential quarters. They will not be published until thoroughly matured.