voting as a single electorate. Each member was elected for twelve years, but it was provided that at the expiration of each period of four years the first six members on the roll, their places in the first instance having been determined by ballot, should retire, and an election take place to supply the vacancies. The names of the members who were elected to fill their places were inscribed at the bottom of the list, and at the end of a further term of four years six others retired, and the same order was observed in placing the newly-elected members. In this way frequent changes were made in the personnel of the Council, in addition to those which occurred by death, resignation, or other causes, such as bankruptcy, lunacy, etc. The qualification of a member for the Council was that he must be of the full age of 30 years, a natural-born or naturalised subject of Her Majesty, or legally made a denizen of the province, and a resident therein of the full period of three years. For an elector the age was fixed at 21 years, with a property qualification of a freehold estate of the value of £50 ; or a leasehold of £20 annual value, with three years to run; or occupation of a dwelling house of £25 annual value, and being registered on the electoral roll of the province for six months prior to the election. The same qualification with regard to citizenship was demanded of both members and electors. By Act No. 236 of 1881 the number of members of the Council was increased to twenty-four, and the province divided into four electoral districts, each returning six members, but from the end of March, 1902, the membership will be reduced to eighteen.

As originally constituted, the House of Assembly consisted of thirtysix members elected for three years. By an amendment of the Constitution Act the number was increased to fifty-four, but in accordance with the scheme of Parliamentary economy the House will consist of forty-two members after the end of March, 1902. The qualification of a member was that he should be entitled to be registered as a voter in and for an electoral district within the province, and that he should have resided in the province for the full period of five years. All that was required of an elector was that he should be 21 years of age, a natural-born or naturalised subject of Her Majesty, and registered on the electoral roll of any electoral district for six months previous to the election.

By the Constitution Amendment Act of 1894 the franchise was extended to women.

The powers of both Houses of Parliament, with one important exception, are similar. The first clause of the Constitution Act requires that all Bills for appropriating any part of the revenue of the province, or for imposing, altering, or repealing any rate, tax, duty, or impost, shall originate in the House of Assembly. By an agreement between the two Houses, the Council may suggest amendments, and if acceptable the Assembly may embody them in a "money" Bill, but the Council has no power to force their acceptance on the Assembly.

The duration of Parliament is for three years, but the Governor, on the advice of his Ministers, or "ex mero motu," may dissolve it at any time. Members of both Houses receive £200 per annum each, and a free pass over Government railways. As originally constituted, the Ministry was formed by five members of the Legislature the Chief Secretary, the Attorney-General, the Treasurer, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and the Commissioner of Public Works. Later on a sixth Minister was added to the number. Five of these are members of the House of Assembly and one of the Legislative Council. They are removable by adverse vote of the Legislative Assembly, or if the contingency arose to require the exercise of the prerogative they may be dismissed by the Governor. The Ministry formulates the policy to be submitted to the Legislature, and advises the Governor as to his course of procedure. It also forms the Executive Council, over which the Governor "ex officio" is President, while the Lieutenant-Governor also occupies a seat. Under the terins of the Constitution Amendment Act of 1901 the number of responsible Ministers has been reduced to four since the 31st March, 1902. The Governor possesses the prerogative of mercy, in the exercise of which he generally follows the advice of his Ministers. By a despatch from the Secretary of State he has been instructed to follow the advice tendered by the Executive; at the same time he retains the power to act on his own initiative in special cases where he deems such a course to be in the interest of the Crown. In such instances he is supposed to report immediately to the Secretary of State, adducing the reason for his action.

Since the inauguration of responsible Government there have been sixteen Parliaments. The first Parliament was opened on the 22nd April, 1857, and dissolved on the 1st March, 1860, while the sixteenth was opened on the 22nd June, 1899. The number of electors on the roll of the Legislative Council at the last general election in May, 1900, was 48,542, and of these, 25,310, or 52 per cent., recorded their votes. At the general election for the House of Assembly in April, 1899, there were 83,698 males and 68,695 females on the rolls, or a total of 152,393. In contested districts the numbers enrolled were 81,570 males and 67,030 females, and of these, 54,972 males and 38,438 females recorded votes, the percentage of males voting being 673, and of females, 57.2.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

THE Bill enabling Her Majesty "to grant a Constitution to Western Australia," received the Royal assent on the 15th August, 1890. When the measure was first discussed in the Imperial Parliament strong opposition was aroused, chiefly owing to a misunderstanding of questions relating to the Crown lands. It was argued that to hand over the control of such a vast territory to the 45,000 inhabitants thinly scattered over it was a piece of political folly. But, through the exertions

beginning of 1902 the number of electors on the roll for the Legislative Council was 23,608, and for the Assembly 89,442. The electors on the rolls in contested districts at the general election for the Legislative Assembly in 1901 numbered 83,114, and of these, 33,479, or 40-3 per cent., recorded their votes.

TASMANIA.

THE Constitution of Tasmania is embodied in Act 18 Vic. No. 17, known as the "Constitutional Act," and in the amending acts subsequently introduced, viz., 23 Vic. No. 23, 34 Vic. No. 42, and 48 Vic. No. 54. A form of government is provided for, consisting of a Governor, appointed by the Crown, and a Legislative Council and House of Assembly, elected by the people. These constitute the "Parliament of Tasmania." Amongst the most important of the powers of the Governor are the appointment, according to law, of the members of the Executive, Ministers of the state, judges, commissioners, and other necessary officers. The Governor also possesses the prerogative of mercy, in the exercise of which he is guided by the advice of the Executive. He may dissolve the House of Assembly at any time; but he cannot adopt this procedure with the Legislative Council, the members of which are appointed for six years. The Governor, in the exercise of his powers, is generally supposed to consult the Executive Council; but in some cases he may act on his own authority, should he consider that circumstances demand such procedure. In all such cases, however, he is required to report immediately to the Imperial authorities, setting out the reasons for his action. The Governor is not permitted to leave the state for more than one month at a time without first obtaining His Majesty's sanction.

The Legislative Council consists of nineteen members, appointed for a term of six years. Members must be natural-born or naturalised subjects of His Majesty, not holding offices of profit under the Crown, and not less than 30 years of age.

Electors for the Legislative Council must be natural-born or naturalised subjects of His Majesty, 21 years of age, and possessing freehold of the annual value of £10, or leasehold of the annual value of £30, or be graduates in any university in the British dominions, or associates of art of Tasmania, or legal practitioners in the Supreme Court of Tasmania, or legally-qualified medical practitioners, or ministers of religion, or officers or retired officers of His Majesty's land and sea forces not on actual service, or retired officers of the Volunteer Force of Tasmania.

The Legislative Council may, within constitutional limits, originate legislation in respect of any matter, with the exception of bills for appropriating revenue or imposing taxation. The Constitution, however, really leaves to either branch of the Legislature the task of determining the form and extent of its rights and privileges.

Members of the Legislative Council, and also of the House of Assembly, receive an honorarium of £100 per annum, with a free railway pass and the privilege of franking letters and telegrams.

The House of Assembly consists of thirty-eight members, elected for three years. Members must be 21 years of age and natural-born or naturalised subjects of His Majesty. The following list of disqualifications applies to both Houses as regards right of election or membership: (a) accepting office of profit under the Crown; (b) being a contractor for the Government, except as member of a company of more than six persons; (c) declaring allegiance to any foreign power; (d) holding the office of Judge of the Supreme Court; (e) being insane, attainted or convicted of treason, felony, or any infamous offence. The electoral qualification for the House of Assembly is as follows:-being a natural-born or naturalised subject of His Majesty, and (a) owner or occupier of property as shown on the Assessment Roll, or (b) in receipt of income, salary, or wages, at the rate of £40 per annum, and having received income, salary, or wages equal to £20 during the period of six months immediately prior to claiming a vote. Board and residence, clothing, and services are deemed income under the Act. In computing wages, rations, allowances, and rent are included, on the following scale-In the case of house allowance, £10 per annum; for rations, £20 per annum; for board and residence, £25 per annum; for house allowance and rations, £30 per annum.

Since the inauguration of responsible Government, there have been thirteen complete Parliaments in Tasmania. The first Parliament was opened on the 2nd December, 1856, and dissolved on the 8th May, 1861. The second session of the thirteenth Parliament commenced on the 28th May, 1901. On the 31st March, 1902, the number of electors on the roll for the Legislative Council was 10,502. In contested electorates the number was 7,613, and of these, 4,919, or 64.6 per cent., recorded On the same date there were 39,495 electors on the roll of the Legislative Assembly. At the last election in contested districts the number of ballot-papers was 26,845. The votes recorded numbered 23,966, or 64.3 per cent. of the enrolment, and there were 618 informal ballot-papers.

votes.

NEW ZEALAND.

THE Act of the Imperial Legislature granting representative institutions to New Zealand was assented to in 1852. Under this Act the constitution of a General Assembly for the whole colony was provided for, to consist of a Legislative Council, the members of which were to be nominated by the Governor and a House of Representatives on an elective basis. By the Act of 1852 the colony was divided into six provinces, each presided over by an elective Superintendent, and with a separate Provincial Council, empowered to legislate except on certain

specified subjects. These Provincial Councils, the number of which was afterwards increased to nine, remained as integral parts of the Constitution until 1876, when they were abolished by the General Assembly that body having the power of amending the Constitution Act. powers previously exercised by Superintendents and provincial officers were delegated to local boards called County Councils, or vested in the Governor.

The Governor is appointed by the Crown, but his salary and allowances are paid by the colony, the present salary being £5,000 per annum. Executive administration is vested in the Governor, and is conducted according to the principies of responsible government. The Governor can appoint or dismiss has Ministers, but his Ministers must possess the confidence of the majority in the House of Representatives. He can assent to bills or with assent therefrom, or reserve them for the sig nification of His May's pleasure. He can summon, prorogue, and dissolve the onto Parliament. He can send drafts of bills to either House for consortion, and can return bills to either House for specific smendment stree they have been passed by both Houses, and before they are assar ralo or reserved by him. The Commission from the King delig tau sa phe Governor certain powers of the royal prerogative, and pavový sex for phe constitution of an Executive Council to advise him in metres of Jugortance, such Executive Council consisting of responsible Visa * the time being. The number of members constituting the Pymolence council cannot be less than ten, but otherwise is practically

At present the number is forty-six. Councillors are d for their services at the rate of £150 per annum, payable - and actual travelling expenses to and from Wellington are ela e puch. A deduction of £1 5s. per sitting day is made in case of A except through illness or other unavoidable cause, exceeding Ang days in any one session. To be qualified as a member of the maçla person must be of the full age of 21 years, and a British sub

ther by birth or by Act of the Imperial Parliament or the Parlia w of New Zealand. All contractors to the public service to an 4mount of over £50, and civil servants of the colony are ineligible. Prior

1891, Councillors held their appointments for life, but on the 17th ptember of that year an Act was passed making seven years the period fouure of a seat, though members may be re-appointed.

House of Representatives consists of seventy-four members, four are Maoris, but it is provided by the Representation 1900 that on the expiration of the present General Assembly her of European representatives shall be increased to seventyThe North Island at present returns thirty-four European and the Middle Island thirty-six. All the electoral districts one member each, with the exception of the cities of Auckland, gton, Christchurch, and Dunedin, which each return three

Representatives are remunerated for their services at the