MEETING OF PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4263, 24 January 1901, Page 5

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT

I (Received January 2-1 0.28 a.m.) I LONDON,' January 23. I Parliament meets automatically forlh|THE PARLIAMENTARY POSITION. 1 In Great Britain, before 1867, the de|mise of the Sovereign involved the disSsolution of Parliament. The Reform |Act passed in that year put an end to Ithat law, and provided for the continued I existence of Parliament after the dei|mise of the Sovereign. In New Zealand the position) is proyided for by special Act—The Demise of the Crown Act of 1888. The chief clauses are (1) that Parliament is not dissolved by the demise of the Crown; (2) the demise of the Crown does not affect; things done before the proclamation thereof; (3) all appointments made by the Governor,-in Council or alone, in the name or on behalf of her Majesty in virtue of his office, or under the authority of any Act of Parliament, Imperial or colonial, shall continue in full force, notwithstanding any future demise of the Crown; (4) all legal proceedings in the name of the Crown and contracts with the Crown remain after the Crown's demise as they were before. As to the question of the Ministerial and Parliamentary oaths- There is this difference between them: Thn Ministerial oath is to her Majesty Queen Victoria, whereas the, Parliamentary oath is to her Majesty Queen Victoria and her heirs, etc. It is the opinion of constitutional authorities that notwithstanding the fourth clause of the colonial Act of 1888, the Ministers will have to take a fresh oath of allegiance to his Majesty the King. THE MINISTERIAL POSITION. In Great Britain the constitutional rule is for tne members of the Privy Council to take the oath of allegiance to the incoming Sovereign. And as the members of the Cabinet are also members of the Privy Council, it is the custom of Ministers also to take a frcii oath. In New Zealand the fourth clause of the Act of 1888, above summarised, would seem' to cover the case of Ministers as well as members of Parliament. But there in another element to he considered. Whereas the Parliamentary oath of allegiance is to her Majesty and her heirs, the Ministerial oath is only to her Majesty. It is probable, therefore, that Ministers will have to swear allegiance to the King, to whom, they have not. according to high constitutional authorities, sworn allegiance.