Hare-Clark system of single transferable vote, with obligations to record at least three preferences. After an earlier partial trial, it was applied to the whole State in 1909, and all subsequent general elections have been held under it. The power of the Upper House to amend Money Bills sent up from the Assembly has always been a matter of some doubt, and at the end of 1924 was successfully challenged by the House of Assembly in respect both of the Appropriation Bill and of an Income Tax Bill. The controversy on the subject was in 1926 settled by a compromise, by which the Upper House gave up any claim to amend the Appropriation Bill or bills imposing a rate of income tax. but maintained full powers of amendment of other Money Bills. Voting is compulsory at elections for both Houses of the State Parliament. GOVERNMENT At the House of Assembly elections on 22nd April 1972, the Labor Party was returned to office by securing 21 seats to the Liberal Party's 14 seats. The Legislative Council comprises 2 Labor Party and 17 Independent members. GOVERNOR His Excellency The Hon. Sir Stanley Charles Burbury, KBE MINISTRY Premier and Treasurer: The Hon. Wl. A. Neilson, MHA Deputy Premier, Chief Secretary, Minister for Planning and Reorganisation Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries: The Hon. L. E. A. Costello, MHA Minister for Housing and Minister for Social Welfare: Attorney-General and Minister for Police and Emergency Services: Minister for Transport and Minister for Racing and Gaming: Minister for Health: The Hon. H. D. Farquhar, MHA Minister for Industrial Development, Minister for Forests Minister for Mines and Minister administering the Hydro-Electric Commission Act: The Hon. S. C. H. Frost, MHA LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION THE NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA The Territory consists of that part of the Australian mainland lying to the north of latitude 26° S. (the northern border of South Australia) and bounded on the west by longitude 129° E. (Western Australia border) and on the west by longitude 138° E. (Queensland border). The Territory also comprises the adjacent islands lying between those longitudes. The total area of the Territory is 1,347,876 square kilometres, the coastline being 1,674 kilometres in length. Darwin is the principal town and the centre of administration of the Territory, as well as the main port. The *population at 30th June 1973 was 42,900. However on 25th December 1974 a major part of *Note: All population figures include Aborigines. Darwin was destroyed by a cyclone as a result of which about two-thirds of the population was evacuated. It will be some years before the town is restored to normal. Alice Springs, about 950 miles south of Darwin, had a population of 11,179 at 30th June 1971 and Nhulunbuy, a new township on Gove Peninsula, 350 miles east of Darwin, 4,400. At June 1974 the population of the Territory as a whole was 98,800. Mining surpasses the pastoral industry as the Territory's chief producer of wealth, the latter having been the mainstay of the Territory's economy for the past half-century. Manganese is the chief mineral being mined, others are gold, copper, bismuth, iron ore and bauxite. Tourism is an important and growing industry. HISTORY AND ADMINISTRATION The first attempt at settlement in northern Australia was made in 1824. In 1827 a portion of north Australia extending to the border of Western Australia was included within New South Wales. In 1862 the western boundary of Queensland was altered by Letters Patent from 141° E. longitude to its present position at 138° E. longitude. In 1863 the portion subsequently known as Northern Territory was annexed by Letters Patent to the Colony of South Australia. However, as from the 1st January 1911, the Territory, with its adjacent islands, was transferred to the Commonwealth by the Northern Territory Acceptance Act, 1910. One of the conditions of the transfer was that such of the laws of South Australia as were applicable to the Territory at the time of transfer were to continue in force until such time as they were altered or repealed by or under any law of the Commonwealth. The Northern Territory (Administration) Act, 1910–1969, provides that there shall be an Administrator appointed by the Governor-General to administer the Territory on behalf of the Australian Government, subject to any instructions given him by the Minister for the Northern Territory from time to time. The Northern Australia Act, 1926, provided for the division of the Territory for administrative purposes into North Australia and Central Australia, separated by the 20th parallel of S. latitude; however, in 1931 this Act was repealed and as from that year the Territory was reunited and administered as before. The first Legislative Council formed of fully elected members took office after elections held in October 1974. The composition of the Council was 17 Country Liberal Party and 2 Independent. Before the Legislative Council was able to operate properly the cyclone, referred to above, devastated Darwin. For the time being, effective Government is in the hands of the Federal Government in Canberra. Persons who, under Part V of the Northern Territory Electoral Regulations made under the Northern Territory Representation Act 1922-1959 and the 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 Australian Parliament, and 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, and two official and three elected members of the Legislative Council. 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. 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 Animal Industry and Agriculture 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 ten aldermen elected by electors of the municipality. The Corporation of the municipality of Alice Springs was established on 1st July 1971 with a Council of eight aldermen and a Mayor all elected by electors. 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. COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS T THE Commonwealth of the Bahamas comprises an archipelago of about 700 islands and more than 2,000 rocks and cays, lying between latitudes 20° 55′ and 27° 25′ N. and longitudes 72° 35′ and 79° 35′ W.; the total land surface area of the islands is 5,380 square miles. The group is separated from Florida on the west by the Straits of Florida and on the south from Cuba by the Old Bahama and Nicholas Channels. About 30 of the islands are inhabited and the more important of these include Abaco, Acklins and Crooked Island, Andros, the Berry and Bimini Islands, Cat, Cay Sal and Cay Lobos, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Long Island, Mayaguana, New Providence, Ragged Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador. Andros is the largest in size, but New Providence upon which the capital, Nassau, is situated, is the most important. The Bahamas lie on a submarine shelf which rises steeply in the east from depths of over 2,000 fathoms, and in the west forms the shallow seas of the Great Bahama Bank. Most of the islands are located on the eastern edge of this shelf and since the seas are coral-bearing the coasts tend to be complex. The islands are composed of corraline limestone and are usually long and narrow, each rising from the shore to a low ridge, beyond which lie lagoons and swamps. The highest point, in Cat Island, is 206 feet above sea level, but Grand Bahama barely reaches 40 feet. Since the rock is permeable there are no streams and the water supply has to be derived either from shallow wells or from rainwater collected in catchments and cisterns. The shallow soils found in small pockets in the limestone rock afford limited cultivation and suit a variety of sub-tropical vegetables and fruit. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream render the winter climate agreeably mild and frosts are never experienced. Temperatures during this season average 21°C (70°F), and summer temperatures, although modified by the sea, vary between 27° and 32°C (80° and 90°F). Most of the rain falls in May, June, September and October and thunderstorms are frequent during the summer months. The total rainfall is comparatively slight, averaging 44 inches per annum, but it varies between the islands from 30 to 60 inches. Censuses are taken every ten years and the population at the last census (1970) was 168,812. A large proportion, some 60 per cent (101,503), of this population resides in New Providence. Freeport, on Grand Bahama, the country's second largest town, has a population exceeding 15,000. The average population density of the islands is only 31 persons per square mile. Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Exuma and Cays, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, Long Island all have more than 3,200 inhabitants. On 31st December 1972 the population was estimated at 189,000. The birth-rate in 1971 was 28.8 per 1,000 and the death-rate 6.3 per 1,000. Religion is predominantly Christian, the main denominations being Baptist, Anglican and Roman Catholic. English is the official and spoken language. The climate is healthy and tropical diseases are absent. Preventive needs are met by child welfare and ante-natal clinics. Immunisation against smallpox, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and poliomyelitis is given in all these clinics, and is a requirement for primary school entry. The Ministry of Health, through the Department of Environmental Sanitation, also has health inspectors to advise on hygiene and sanitation. Curative needs are met by the Princess Margaret Hospital on New Providence which has 450 beds, full supporting services and full-time consultant specialists in medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, paediatrics, chest diseases, pathology, radiology, obstetrics, gynaecology and ophthalmology. Serious cases from the Family Islands are brought into this hospital by air. A mental hospital and rehabilitation unit of 230 beds and a geriatric hospital of 140 beds are also situated on New Providence. Altogether there are 13 medical officers on the Family Islands and some 50 clinics where there is not a resident doctor; doctors from New Providence visit the clinics regularly on a Flying Doctor Service. On five Family Islands there are Government run cottage hospitals, and on Grand Bahama there is a hospital under Government control. Under the Education Act 1968, education is compulsory and free between the ages of 5 and 14. There are 15 Junior High Schools, 6 Senior High Schools, 95 "All-Age" Schools plus 2 Teacher Training Colleges, and 1 Technical School (now The College of the Bahamas). There are also 45 Independent Schools made up of 19 Primary, 4 Special, 12 “All-Age" and 10 Junior High. There is a Department of Extramural Studies of the University of the West Indies in Nassau. There are about 400 students studying overseas on Government scholarships. There is one reformatory school for boys under the Industrial School Act and one for girls. Literacy is estimated to be 90 per cent. There are 5 public libraries in Nassau and 36 village libraries on the Family Islands. The main seaports are Nassau (New Providence), Freeport (Grand Bahama) and Matthew Town (Inagua). The total number of vessels entered in 1971, excluding yachts and sail craft, was 6,199 representing an estimated increase of 1,879 vessels in the overall figures for 1970. Nassau has direct passenger-cargo connections with the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the West Indies and South America. The country is served by Saguenay Shipping Ltd., the Royal Mail Line, the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, the Royal Netherlands Steamship Company and a number of other lines. The principal airports are situated at Nassau, 12 miles from the town (runway 11,000 feet) and Freeport, Grand Bahama (runway 8,300 feet) from which international services are operated; and at West End, Grand Bahama (runway 8,000 feet) and Rock Sound, Eleuthera. There are 55 smaller airports and landing strips designed to facilitate services between the Family Islands. This service is operated by Bahamasair, the national flag-carrier. There are more than 260 miles of roads on New Providence maintained by the Ministry of Works, 125 miles of asphalt roads on Eleuthera, and 130 on Grand Bahama. Roads are under construction on Andros Island and on most of the smaller islands where previously only rough tracks existed. There are more than 550 miles of paved roads in other Family Islands. There is a considerable mileage of privately owned and maintained roads, mainly on New Providence. There are no railways in the territory. The headquarters of the Government-owned broadcasting service, operated by the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas, is located in Nassau. It operates on two frequencies of 1,240 and 1,540 kc/s and its call signs are Radio New Providence and Radio Bahamas respectively. Radio Bahamas' Northern Service on Grand Bahama is testing on a frequency of 1,060 kc/s. Commercial broadcasting began in 1950, although a broadcasting station has existed since 1936. There is no direct television but a Community Antenna Television system |