The General Legislative Council, also known as the New Zealand Legislative Council, was established in 1841 when New Zealand was created as a Crown colony separate from New South Wales. The Legislative Council consisted of the governor, the colonial secretary, the colonial treasurer, and senior justices of the peace; all members were appointed. From 1848, there were additional provincial Legislative Councils for New Ulster and New Munster. The general Legislative Council had twelve sessions; the first ten were held in Auckland and the last two in Wellington. In May 1852, an act provided for two thirds of the membership of the provincial Legislative Councils to be elected. Elections for the New Ulster Province had already been held when news was received that the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 had been passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. No meeting of the elected members was ever called. The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 disestablished the Legislative Council when writs for the first election of members of the New Zealand House of Representatives were returned. The initial legislative councils ceased to exist in September 1853.[1]
James Coates was clerk to the general Legislative Council during the entire time of its existence.[4]
Sessions of the general Legislative Council
The general Legislative Council sat for twelve sessions, with the third session split across two periods.[4] The sessions in Wellington were held in a room in the court house:[5]
Session
from
to
location
1
24 May 1841
10 July 1841
Auckland
2
14 December 1841
15 March 1842
Auckland
3
9 January 1844
13 January 1844
Auckland
14 May 1844
18 July 1844
4
19 September 1844
28 September 1844
Auckland
5
4 March 1845
22 April 1845
Auckland
6
12 December 1845
13 December 1845
Auckland
7
5 October 1846
18 November 1846
Auckland
8
26 July 1847
16 October 1847
Auckland
9
16 November 1848
18 November 1848
Auckland
10
1 August 1849
25 August 1849
Auckland
11
19 May 1851
2 August 1851
Wellington
12
12 December 1852
5 January 1853
Wellington
Membership
The general Legislative Council had 41 members during its existence. Where membership was due to holding an office, this is identified in the table below. Members were entitled to the honorific prefix "Honourable". The last session of the council was adjourned in January 1853, and those who were present at this session, or not present but still held membership, are identified accordingly. There was no public announcement of the general Legislative Council having ceased to exist, but based on the New Zealand Constitution Acts and the date of writs received, it is likely that membership terminated on 28 September 1853.[6]
Wilson, Jim (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4thed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC154283103.
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