Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- ERRATA
- CHAPTER XV GENERAL CONDITION OF AUSTRALIA AND STATISTICS
- CHAPTER XVI FURTHER ALTERATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONS
- CHAPTER XVII EXPLORATION AND ABORIGINES
- CHAPTER XVIII POWERS OF HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT—INTERCAMERAL DIFFERENCES—ATTACK ON THE COUNCIL IN SYDNEY—TACKS IN VICTORIA—SIR C. DARLING
- CHAPTER XIX PAYMENT OF MEMBERS—COLONIAL DEFENCES—IMPERIAL RELATIONS—REFORM BILLS IN VICTORIA—PARLIAMENTS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, AND QUEENSLAND, AND COUNCIL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
- CHAPTER XX RELIGION AND EDUCATION—GOVERNORS—LABOUR-TRADE AND KIDNAPPING—FIJI—JUDICIAL AND JURY SYSTEMS—PUBLIC WORKS—FREE SELECTION OF LAND IN NEW SOUTH WALES—EDUCATION IN VICTORIA
- CHAPTER XXI GOVERNORS—ALIENATION OF CROWN LANDS IN VICTORIA, QUEENSLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA—NEW GUINEA—STATISTICS AND GENERAL CONDITION OF AUSTRALIA
- Title in the series
- INDEX
CHAPTER XVI - FURTHER ALTERATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONS
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- ERRATA
- CHAPTER XV GENERAL CONDITION OF AUSTRALIA AND STATISTICS
- CHAPTER XVI FURTHER ALTERATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONS
- CHAPTER XVII EXPLORATION AND ABORIGINES
- CHAPTER XVIII POWERS OF HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT—INTERCAMERAL DIFFERENCES—ATTACK ON THE COUNCIL IN SYDNEY—TACKS IN VICTORIA—SIR C. DARLING
- CHAPTER XIX PAYMENT OF MEMBERS—COLONIAL DEFENCES—IMPERIAL RELATIONS—REFORM BILLS IN VICTORIA—PARLIAMENTS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, AND QUEENSLAND, AND COUNCIL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
- CHAPTER XX RELIGION AND EDUCATION—GOVERNORS—LABOUR-TRADE AND KIDNAPPING—FIJI—JUDICIAL AND JURY SYSTEMS—PUBLIC WORKS—FREE SELECTION OF LAND IN NEW SOUTH WALES—EDUCATION IN VICTORIA
- CHAPTER XXI GOVERNORS—ALIENATION OF CROWN LANDS IN VICTORIA, QUEENSLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA—NEW GUINEA—STATISTICS AND GENERAL CONDITION OF AUSTRALIA
- Title in the series
- INDEX
Summary
It must ever be an interesting study to analyze the transformations of the Constitutions of the Australian colonies after they were submitted to local arbitrament. New Zealand formed an exception. In the other colonies changes, whether wise or foolish, were made after discussions, and in terms of local or Imperial enactment. In New Zealand it may truly be said that the adoption of responsible government was the unlawful result of insidious claims made by members elected under her Constitution Act (15 and 16 Viet., cap. 72), which had not provided, and was not intended to provide in any manner, for local responsible government. The Act contained no word about it; and though speeches of law-makers must not be called in to construe their handiwork, it is fair to say that the absence of any allusion to responsible government in speeches in the Houses proves that the subject was not considered or decided upon. The title of the Act designated it as one to “grant a Representative Constitution.” Such institutions had existed for many years in Australia without responsible government. Moreover, there was ample proof, internal in the law, and in the Royal Instructions which accompanied it to the colony, that the perversion of the Constitution was unwarrantable.
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- Information
- History of Australia , pp. 61 - 187Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011First published in: 1883