Mittings and reports.

Otago Witness, Issue 1555, 27 August 1881, Page 22

Mittings and reports.

Insular Separation*

Wellington, August 18th.

In the House to-day, Mr Macandrew gave notice to move on going into Committee of Supply as follows:—

1. That with a view to greater efficiency and economy in the government of New Zealand, it is expedient that the Colony should be divided into two distinct provinces, separated by Cook's Straita.

2. That each of the two provinces Bhall have a legislature to Decomposed in the first instance of the members of the House of Representatives in each Inland, who shall be elected to serve in the next Colonial Parliament, and of a president, to be elected out of the said members. 3- The president shall be the chief executive officer of the province, and an integral part of the said Legislature. He shall posaeas the same functions in relation to the Provincial Council »s doev the Governor towards the House of Representatives. 4. That each of the Provincial Legislatures shall have full independent and constituent powers of legislation and administration, as regards every matter and thing affecting the peace, order, and good government of the province, except as hereinafter provided. 5 _It Bhall not ba lawful for any Provincial Xjagisl&tuxe to make or ordain any lav or ordinance for any of the purposes hereinafter mentioned : that is to say— (l) ths imposition or regulation of duties of customs to be imposed on the importation or exportation of any goods at any port or place in tbe province ; (2) the establishment or abolition of any court of judicature, of civil or criminal jurisdiction, except courts for trying and punishing such offences as by the law of New Zealand, are, or may be, made punishable in a summary way, or altering the constitution, jurisdiction, or practice of any such court except as aforesaid; (3) regulating any of the current coin, or the issue of any bills, notes, or other paper ourrenoy j (4) regulating thj weights and measures to be tuwd In the pro* ■ yioe* or m part thbroof ; (6) regulating thf

post-office and the carriage of letters within the province; (6) establishing, altering, or repealing laws relating to bankruptcy or insolvency ; (7) the maintenance and erection of beacons and lighthouses on the coast ; (8) the imposition of any dues or other charges on shipping at any port or harbour in the province ; (9) regulating marriages; (10) inflicting any disabilities or restriction, upon persons of the Native race to which persons of European birth would not also be subjectsd : (11) altering in any way the criminal law of New Zealand, ezcept so far as relates to the trial and punishment of such offences as are now or may be by the criminal laws cf New Zealand punishable in a summary way as aforesaid: (12) regulating the course of inheritance of real or personal property, or affecting the law relating to wills. 6. The General Assembly of New Zealand shall, until otherwise determined, continue as at present constituted, and shall have exclusive power and authority to deal with those subjeots hereinbefore mentioned as id fa vires of Provincial Legislature, and with no others. 7- The taxing functions of the General Assembly Bhall be limited to the raising of money for the following purposes — that is to say : Payment of interest and sinking fund of the Colonial debt heretofore incurred ; cost of tbe Colonial Legislature ; as also any deficiency which may arise in respect of the maintenance of the Supreme Court, postal, telegraphic, and lighthouses services. 8. With the exception of the Supreme Court, postal, telegraph, and lighthouses services, the duty of providing for and administering all other departments of government shall devolve upon the Provincial Legislatures within their respective provinces ; and all Government railways already constructed and in course of construction, all school buildings, and buildings not required for Colonial Government purposes, and also the waste lands of the Crown, and the revenue derived therefrom from each province Bhall become the property of each province: provided always that the waste lands shall be held at subject to the due fulfilment of all existing contracts and engagements in respect thereof. 9. That the Government be requested during the recesß to cause a bill to be prepared to give effect to the foregoing proposals, such bill to be submitted to ths next Parliament within one week of the commencement of the session.