NEW ZEALAND 



exports and charges on shipping at variance with treaty 

 between Great Britain and an}- foreign power. The 

 Governor was given power to reserve Bills passed by the 

 New Zealand Houses for consideration by the Home 

 Government. But during the history of half a century of 

 vigorous legislation, including some of the most radical 

 measures the world has ever known, experience proves that 

 Great Britain is inclined to use this power very sparinglJ^ 

 New Zealand is practically independent, except in respect 

 to international matters, and the little liberty she yields is 

 vastly more than compensated by the benefits of federation 

 in the British Empire. 



The first parliament met in 1854 at Auckland. The 

 first session was storm}^ and lasted only for a few weeks. 

 Those who had drawn up the constitution had neglected to 

 provide for a responsible ministry, that is a ministry that 

 could be brought to an end by vote of the House. A bill 

 was, however, passed for the establishment of a ministry 

 responsible to the House, and it received the consent of the 

 Home Government so that when the second Parliament 

 met in 1856 it took control of the Cabinet. When Sir 

 George Grey retired from the Governorship in 1868, the 

 real executive power passed to the ministry where it has 

 remained ever since. From about the middle of December, 

 throughout January, February and March, which are the 

 summer months in New Zealand, Parliament does not sit. 

 Most of the important laws are passed toward the end of 

 the session in September, October and November. 



Having traced briefly the history of this interesting 

 part of the civilized world up to the inauguration of 

 responsible government, as it is impossible for me to give 

 any detailed account of the extensive radical and progres- 

 sive legislation of the Parliaments of New Zealand in this 

 paper, I must content myself with briefly indicating the 

 character and scope of a small part of such legislation. 



The Torrens System of land transfer has been 

 gradually introduced with most satisfactory results. The 



