§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, To inform the House of the nature of the Constitutional Reform Act just passed by the Cape Parliament; and whether it makes the Executive Ministry completely responsible to the Legislature of that Colony?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENSir, no Constitutional Reform Act had been passed by the Cape Parliament according to our latest information. What had occurred was this—the House of Assembly had agreed to Resolutions in favour of responsible Government, founded upon which a Bill had been introduced, but had not yet been passed. The main, object of that Bill was to render Ministers responsible to the Legislature by enabling them to be elected and take their seats therein. At present they are allowed to sit, but not as elected members, and not to vote.