Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/622

 274 titE BRI'TlSH EMPIRfi: — NEW ZEALAND

Maori electoral district — of which there are four only in the colony — can vote, provided he (or she) be not registered on any European roll. Registration is not required in Native districts.

At the general election in 1896 there were 339,230 (196,925 men and 142,305 women) electors on the rolls for the electoral districts, which returned 70 European members to the House of Representatives ; and at the election of the four Maori members for the districts under the Maori Representation Act, 13,008 votes of natives were recorded.

The proportion of representation to population was in 1896 one European member in the House of Representatives to every 10,186 persons, and one Maori member to every 9,964 natives.

The proportion of electors to population in the year 1896 was one to every 2*1 persons.

Governor. — The Right Honourable the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., appointed Governor of New Zealand, 10th August, 1897.

The Governor, who is by virtue of his office Commander-in- Ohief of the forces, has a salary of 5,000^., which is to cover all expenses of his establishment and for travelling.

The general administration rests with a responsible Ministry consisting of about seven members.

The following is the list of the present Ministry : —

Premier, Colonial Treasurer, Commissioner of Trade and Customs, Post- master-General, Electric Telegraph Commissioner, Minister of Labour, and Minister of Native Affairs. — Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.

Minister of Lands^ Minister of Agriculture, Commissioner of Forests^ and Minister in Charge of Advances to Settlers Office. — Hon. J. McKenzie.

Minister for Railways and Minister of Mines. — Hon. A. J. Cadman.

Commissioner of Stamp Duties, Acting Colonial Secretary, and Member of Executive Council representing the Native Race. — Hon. J. Carroll.

Minister of Immigration, Alinister of Education, and^Minister in Charge of Bospitals and Charitable Aid. — Hon. W. C. "Walker.

Minister for Public JVorks, Minister of Marine, and Minister in Chclrge of Printing Office. — Hon. W. Hall- Jones.

Minister of Justice, Minister of Defence ^ and. Minister of Industries and Commerce. — Hon. T. Thompson.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. — Hon. Sir George Maurice 0*Rorke, Kt.

The control of native affairs, and the entire responsibility of dealing with questions of native government, were transferred in 1863 from the Imperial to the Colonial Government. In 1864 the seat of the general Government was removed from Auckland to Wellington on account of the central position of the latter city.

Local Government.

I'or purposes of local government New Zealand is divided into counties and boroughs. The counties are subdivided into ridings. County councils are empowered to constitute road districts on petition being made. Besides the