Captain O'NEILLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what validating Bills have been passed by the Imperial Parliament within the past twenty years for the purpose of giving validity to Bills unconstitutionally passed by the Parliaments of the self-governing Dominions?
Mr. HARCOURTThe following validating Acts have been passed:—
Canada 59 Vict., c. 3 (Session 2) Canadian Speaker; Appointment of Deputy.—This was passed at the request of the Canadian Government to remove any doubt as to the validity of a Canadian Act on the subject.
Australia 56 and 57 Vic, c. 72 validates any Act passed by the Legislature of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, and assented to in Her Majesty's name by the Governor and not disallowed by Her Majesty before the 20th February, 1894, the date of the passing of the Act. The Act was intended to validate certain Acts which should have been reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure and had not been reserved. The Special Acts were not set out in the Enactment.
I. Edward 7, e. 29, confirms the following Acts:—
New South Wales.—The Federal Elections Act, 1900 (No. 73 of 1900). The Parliamentary Electorates Redistribution Act, 1900 (No. 84 of 1900).
Queensland.—The Parliament of the Commonwealth Elections Act and the Elections Acts, 1885 to 1898, Amendment Act of 1900 (No. 25 of 1900).
113WWestern Australia.—An Act to correct certain errors in the Constitution Acts Amendment Act, 1899 (No. 11 of 1900); the Constitution Act Amendment Act, 1900 (No. 5 of 1900).
In these cases again the Acts had been assented to, but it was doubtful whether they should not have been reserved. 7 Ed. 7, c. 7 validates any Act passed by the Legislature of any of the six Australian States, and assented to in the name of His Majesty by the Governor and not disallowed by His Majesty before the 2nd August, 1907, the date of the passing of the Act, notwithstanding that the Bill should have been reserved, and notwithstanding that it should have been laid before both Houses of Parliament, and was not so reserved or so laid before the Houses.