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Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918–1966, are qualified to vote at an election for a member to represent the Northern Territory in the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth Parliament are qualified to vote at an election of a member to the Legislative Council.

Aborigines may enrol, and having enrolled are entitled to vote at Federal and Northern Territory Legislative Council elections.

Under the procedures for assent to ordinances, the Administrator or the Governor-General (as appropriate) may return ordinances with suggested amendments for reconsideration by the Council. Every ordinance, whether assented to or disallowed, must be laid before each House of Parliament within fifteen sitting days of that House. When assent is withheld from an ordinance, the Minister is obliged to lay the reasons before each House as soon as possible, but in any case within fifteen sitting days of that House. A statement of reasons for withholding assent is also presented to the Legislative Council.

The Northern Territory (Administration) Act also provides for an Administrator's Council consisting of the Administrator, two official members of the Legislative Council and three other members, none of whom is an official member and at least two of whom are elected members. Each member of the Administrator's Council (other than the Administrator) is appointed by the Minister on the nomination of the Administrator and, subject to the Act, holds office during the pleasure of the Minister. The Council's function is to advise the Administrator on any matters referred to it by the Administrator and on other matters as provided in the Ordinances of the Territory. Following the change in the composition of the Legislative Council it is proposed that the Administrator's Council will include provision for three elected members.

The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory is the highest judicial tribunal in the Territory and is the only court possessing jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters, and appeals from its judgement may be taken to the Full Court of the High Court of Australia. Federal jurisdiction in bankruptcy is exercised by the Supreme Court through the Bankruptcy Act 1924-1960. There are of course courts of summary jurisdiction and local courts with limited jurisdiction in civil matters. There are also wardens' courts constituted by the mining laws, and licensing courts having jurisdiction in liquor licensing matters, etc.

The Social Welfare Ordinance provides for care and assistance to all persons socially and economically in need, including Aborigines. There is no legislative discrimination against Aborigines.

Most land held from the Crown is held on leasehold, as provided for by the Crown Lands, Darwin Town Area Leases, Special Purposes Leases, Church Lands Leases and Agricultural Development Leases Ordinances. Provision is made for the control of mining, fisheries and pearling. The Director of Agriculture and Animal Industry has wide powers in regard to the movements of stock, control of stock routes, disease prevention, etc.

Local government was reconstituted in Darwin on the 1st July 1957. Darwin is now a city with a Council consisting of the Mayor and eight aldermen elected by electors of the municipality.

PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

The Northern Territory Representation Act 1922-1959 provides for the election of a member for the Territory to the House of Representatives. For some years prior to an amendment of the Act in 1959 the member had no vote in the

House, although he could take part in debates in the House. Amendments passed in 1959 gave the member limited voting rights in respect of matters which relate solely to the Northern Territory. The Act was further amended in 1968 and the member representing the Northern Territory now has the same voting rights as other members of the House of Representatives.

Administrator: R. L. Dean

B

BARBADOS

ARBADOS is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands and lies between latitudes 13° and 14° N. and longitudes 59° and 60° W. Its total area is 166 square miles.

It is comparatively flat, rising in a series of tablelands marked by well-defined terraces to the highest point (1,104 feet) at Mount Hillaby. The north-east corner of the island, the Scotland area, is broken country, much eroded and rather barren. The formation of the rest of the island is coral limestone. There are no rivers, but deep gullies which fill with water during heavy rain have cut their way through the coral terraces in many places. Indigenous forest covers about 46 acres.

The climate is more equable than the tropical latitude would suggest. Northeasterly trade winds blow steadily from December to June but during the remainder of the year, the wet season, the wind moves to the south-east and is less strong, resulting in humid, hotter conditions. The average temperature is 26.5°C (79-8°F). The rainfall is very varied: in the high central district the yearly average is 75 inches while in some of the low-lying coastal areas the average is 50 inches.

The population of Barbados at the census of 1960 was 232,820. The populations of the parishes were: Bridgetown, the capital, and St Michael 94,209; Christ Church 33,425; St George 17,075; St Philip 17,255; St John 10,967; St James 13,611; St Thomas 10,026; St Joseph 8,582; St Andrew 7,813; St Peter 10,860; St Lucy 8,997. The main population divisions were Negro 207,156; White 10,083; Mixed 13,993; Others 1,588. The estimated population at 31st December 1968 was 252,931. The birth rate, based on 1968 figures, is 22.0 per 1,000 and the death rate 8.2 per 1,000. The main religious denominations are Anglican 133,772; Methodist 18,403; Roman Catholic 6,429; Others 74,216. Education (primary and secondary) is free in Government aided schools. Bridgetown is the only port of entry, but oil is pumped ashore at Spring Gardens and at an Esso installation on the West Coast.

The main shipping companies visiting Barbados are Harrison Line, Geest Line, Royal Netherlands Steamship Company, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, Saguenay Shipping Ltd, Booth Line, Lamport and Holt Line, Moore McCormack Line, Hamburg-Amerika Line, Caribbean-Hamburg Line (formerly Three Bays Line) and Federal Shipping Service. Companies calling less frequently include Linea 'C', Delta Line, Blue Ribbon Line, Atlantic Line, and Blue Star Line.

An international airport is situated at Seawell, 12 miles from Bridgetown, Air France, British Overseas Airways Corporation, British West Indian Airways.

Leeward Island Air Transport, Pan American World Airways, Air Canada, Caribair and the Netherlands Antilles air line A.L.M. operate frequent scheduled services connecting Barbados with the major world air routes.

There are 800 miles of roads, of which approximately 720 miles are asphalted. Barbados has a television service, a wireless broadcasting service and a wired broadcasting service. The first two are operated by the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, a corporate body set up by Order-in-Council of the Barbados Government in 1963. The wired system, which covers the whole island, is operated by Barbados Rediffusion Service Limited, a local subsidiary of Rediffusion Limited.

The economy of the island is based on sugar and the tourist industry is also an important source of revenue. Total exports in 1968 were valued at SEC.73,361,073, of which $EC.29,354,523 worth were to the United Kingdom. The imports in 1968 were valued at $EC.167,271,894, of which $EC.45,929,093 came from Britain.

In 1968/69 Government revenue was estimated to be $EC.50,956,831 and expenditure SEC.56,118,581.

Barbados National Day is Independence Day, which commemorates the achievement of Independence on 30th November 1966.

HISTORY

The first inhabitants of Barbados were Arawak Indians but the island was uninhabited when the first British landings took place some time between 1620 and 1625.

The first British settlements in the island were established between 1625 and 1628. The first group of settlers was led by Captain Henry Powell, representing the interests of Sir William Courteen. Other groups were sponsored by the Earl of Carlisle who in 1628 was granted a patent by King Charles I in respect of the whole of the Barbados settlements. This was subsequently leased by Carlisle's son to Lord Willoughby of Parham who during the Civil War became Governor of the island and continued to hold it in the Royalist interest until 1652, when he capitulated to a Cromwellian fleet. The terms of this capitulation, however, guaranteed the rights of the settlers and became known as the Charter of Barbados.

At the Restoration, the Carlisle/Willoughby interests were renewed, but the patent was surrendered to the Crown in exchange for a provision entitling Lord Willoughby and his heirs to a duty of 4 per cent on Barbados exports. Although this agreement marked the end of proprietary rule, the export duty was sorely resented by the islanders and remained a source of grievance until it was abolished by Act of Parliament in 1838.

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The island has one of the oldest constitutions in the Commonwealth. The office of Governor and a Legislative Council were established in 1627. The House of Assembly was formally constituted in 1639.

A distinctive feature of the constitutional development of Barbados has been that it has progressed and been regulated largely by convention, rather than by formal legislation. It is nevertheless convenient to trace, by reference to the latter, the steps by which the island progressed through widening forms of representation and suffrage and through modifications of policy-making and

legislative powers, successively to a ministerial form of government, to a cabinet system and finally, through full internal self-government, to independence.

The first of these steps was the creation in 1876 of an Executive Council which in 1881 became the nucleus of an Executive Committee, some of whose functions and powers developed into forms analogous to those of Ministerial government.

A widening of the franchise in 1944 was to prove the start of a quickening process towards full internal self-government: a party political system and a modified form of ministerial government in 1946; universal adult suffrage in 1951; a full ministerial system in 1954; cabinet government in 1958.

By the end of 1957, Barbados had in practice progressed to virtual selfgovernment. This status was formally achieved in 1961, when the post of Chief Secretary was abolished, nominated members ceased to sit in the Executive Committee and provisions were made under which the Governor, subject to one reference back, was bound to accept the advice of the Ministers in the Executive Committee. At the same time, the powers and responsibilities of Ministers were widened and the island assumed control over its own public service. Arrangements were made for appeals on matters of discipline, which formerly went to the Secretary of State, to be dealt with by the Executive Council, which was re-named the Privy Council.

The final stage of constitutional advance before Independence was reached in 1964, when the Executive Committee was abolished and its powers and functions transferred entirely to the Cabinet. Among other changes, the Legislative Assembly was also abolished and replaced by a Senate.

Barbados had been a member of the Federation of the West Indies, which was set up in 1958 but which was dissolved in 1962. In August 1965 the Barbados Government announced its intention to seek separate Independence. At a conference held in London in June-July 1966, arrangements were agreed under which Barbados became an independent Sovereign State within the Commonwealth on 30th November 1966.

CONSTITUTION

The Constitution of Barbados, contained in the Barbados Independence Order 1966 provides for a Governor-General appointed by Her Majesty the Queen and for a bi-cameral Legislature. The Senate consists of 21 Senators appointed by the Governor-General, 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister, two on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and seven by the GovernorGeneral acting in his own discretion. The House of Assembly consists of 24 elected members but provision is made for a greater number of members as may be prescribed by Parliament. The President and Deputy President of the Senate and Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and elected, respectively by the Senate and the House of Assembly from within their own membership.

The normal life of Parliament is five years. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister who must be a Member of Parliament and such other ministers as the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints from among the Senators and Members of Parliament. The Member of Parliament, who in the judgement of the Governor-General is the Leader in the House of the party commanding the support of the largest number of Members of Parliament in opposition to the Government, is appointed by him Leader of the Opposition.

Apart from the entrenched provisions, the Constitution may be amended by an Act of Parliament passed by both Houses. The entrenched provisions which relate to citizenship, rights and freedom, the establishment of the office of the Governor-General, his functions, the composition of the two Houses of Parliament, Sessions of Parliament, the Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliament, General Elections, the appointment of Senators, the executive Authority of Barbados, the Judicature, the Civil Service and Finance, can only be amended by a vote of two-thirds of all the members of both Houses.

There is a Supreme Court of Judicature consisting of a High Court and a Court of Appeal, and in certain cases a further appeal lies to the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council. The Chief Justice is appointed by the Governor-General acting on the recommendation of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. Puisne Judges are appointed by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.

The Constitution also contains provisions relating to citizenship and the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual.

HISTORICAL LIST
GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Sir John Montague Stow, GCMG, KCVO, from 30th November 1966 to 15th May 1967
Sir Winston Scott, GCMG, from 15th May 1967

GOVERNMENT

The last general election took place on 3rd November 1966 and as a result the composition of the political parties in the House of Representatives was: Democratic Labour Party 14; Barbados Labour Party 8; Barbados National Party 2.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL

His Excellency Sir Winston Scott, GCMG

MINISTRY

Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of External Affairs:

The Rt. Hon. E. W. Barrow

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for Caribbean and Latin American Affairs also Leader of the House of Assembly: The Hon. J. Cameron Tudor Minister of Education: Senator The Hon. Erskine Sandiford

Minister of Home Affairs and Leader of the Senate: Senator the Hon. P. M. Greaves Minister of Health and Community Development: The Hon. C. E. Talma Minister of Trade, Tourism, Co-operatives and Fisheries: The Hon. G. G. Ferguson Minister of Agriculture, Labour and National Insurance: The Hon. K. N. R. Husbands Minister of Communications and Works: The Hon. N. W. Boxill

Minister without Portfolio designated Attorney-General: The Hon. F. G. Smith, QC PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES

Ministry of Education: Senator Odessa Gittens

Ministry of Communications and Works: W. R. Lowe, MP

Ministry of Agriculture, Labour and National Insurance: J. W. Corbin, MP
Ministry of Health and Community Development: R. St C. Weekes, MP

LEADER OF OPPOSITION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Sir Grantley Adams, CMG, QC, Barbados Labour Party

SENATE

President of the Senate: Senator Sir Stanley Robinson, KT, CBE
Clerk of the Senate: L. H. Clarke

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Speaker: The Hon. Sir Theodore Brancker, KT, QC

Clerk: H. O. St C. Cumberbatch

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