cuar. 111] REPUGNANCY OF COLONIAL LAWS 405
answered in the affirmative, and the second in the negative,
are we able to suggest any principle which would regulate
the distinction between fundamental principles of which the
violation would vitiate a Colonial Act, and the non-funda-
mental rules or customs of legislation which a Colonial
Legislature is at liberty to disregard ?
6. To what extent would a single provision invalid on
account of repugnancy with English law vitiate the rest of
the Act ?
7. Would a judge be at liberty to pronounce a Colonial
Act invalid, though duly assented to by the Governor, on
the ground that it fell within one of the classes to which he
was forbidden to assent without urgent necessity ?
8. In particular, do we see any reason to doubt the validity
of the South Australian Constitutional Act ?
9. Having special reference to the omission of any reference
to South Australia in the 29th section of the Act 13 & 14
Vict. ¢. 59, do we see any reason to doubt the power of the
South Australian Legislature to constitute courts of justice ?
10. Do we see anything objectionable in Mr. Boothby’s
view of his own obligation to conform his own judgement
to the decisions of the Supreme Court of which he is a
member ? ’
11. And, finally, whether we concur with the Committes
of the House of Assembly in thinking Imperial legislation
advisable or necessary in order to place beyond doubt all
or anv of the above questions.
The report was as follows :—
That 1. The powers of the Colonial Legislature being
conferred by Act of the Imperial Parliament, and limited
by the same enactment, and so, valid or invalid, as they
keep within or transgress the prescribed limits, the Supreme
Court of South Australia is, in our opinion, bound (and
certainly at liberty) to satisfy itself of the legal validity of
any Act of the Colonial Legislature, the provisions of which
it is called upon to administer.
In the case of an Act assented to by the Governor, we
think that the fact of its having been left to its operation
by Her Majesty would not affect the question of its validity.
2. We answer this question in the affirmative, as in the case
supposed an unquestionable ‘repugnancy *would beapparent
between the English law and the Colonial enactment, and
the Colonial Legislature is debarred from the enacting of
laws being thus repugnant (13 & 14 Vict. c. 59. s. 14).