PAPERS RELATIVE TO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1862 Session I, A-05

PAPERS RELATIVE TO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND.

PRESENTED BY COMMAND TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

A—No. 5

PAPERS RELATIVE TO INCREASING THE NUMBER OE MEMBERS OE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND. No. 1. copy of a DESPATCH from governor sir George grey, k.c.b., to his grace the duke - t OF NEWCASTLE. °* ""' New Zealand, Auckland, 30th Nov., 1861. My Lord Duke, — I have the honor to enclose for your Grace's information the copy of a paper I have re Memorandum by Mr.Fox, ceived from the New Zealand Ministry, stating it as their opinion that it is desirable that power s'/ 1 Nov- and Mr- Sewshould be given to the Governor to increase the number of the Legislative Council from 20 to SO ell' srePort lhereonMembers, by making from time to time additional appointments to that Council. I have, &c, G. Gret. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K. G., &c, &c, &c. Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Auckland, 25th November, 1861. The Attorney-General is requested to give his opinion as to whether the Governor has power, under his present Commission, to enlarge the number of Members of the Legislative Council; and whether it is necessary to enable such enlargement to be made, that express authority be delegated by Her Majesty. } W. Fox, Colonial Secretary. Enclosure 2 in No. 1. November 25th, 18G1. The Governor's power to appoint Members of the Legislative Council is limited in number to twenty, i. c., the whole Council cannot exceed that number. It requires express authority from Her Majesty to the Governor to enlarge the number. Henry Sewell. Enclosure 3 in No. 1. 2Gth November, 1861. To His Excellency the Governor, Ministers are of opinion, that it is desirable to have a power of adding to the number of Legislative Councillors «hen the next Session of the Assembly shall take place. When tlie present Ministry took office, they found only one seat in the Legislative Council vacant. It is possible that it may not be necessary in practice to propose sny addition, but they feel that before another Session they ought to be in a position to make such addition, if found desirable. His Excellency is, therefore, recommended to obtain from Her Majesty's Government the power to increase the Legislative Council, from time to time, by an additional number ot ten Members. William Fox, Colonial Secretary.

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Separate,

4 PAPERS ON INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS. No. 2. COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY, K,C,B. Downing Street, 26th March, 1862. Sir, — I have received your Despatch, No. 33, of the 30th November last, in which you transmit a copy of a paper which you had received from your Ministers expressing their opinion, that it is desirable that the local Government should have the power of adding to the number of the Legislative Council by the period of the next Session of the General Assembly, and recommending that you should obtain from Her Majesty's Government the power to increase the Council from time to time by an additional number often Members. Having fully considered this recommendation, and the ground upon which it is made, I think it best, while withdrawing the existing limitation of tt)e number of the Council, to refrain from imposing any fresh restriction where none has been imposed by the Legislature. I shall, therefore, advise Her Majesty simply to repeal, by an additional Instruction, the limit which is now placed on the extension of the Legislative Council, and that Instructions will be transmitted as soon as the necessary forms will admit of its completion. I have, &c, Newcastle. Governor Sir George Grey, K. C. 8., &c, &c.