Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/644

 296 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — SOUTH AUSTRALIA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Constitution and Government

Founded in 1836 (Act 4 and 5 Will. IV. c. 95) the present Constitution of South Australia bears date October 24, 1856. It vests the legislative power in a Parliament elected by the peoplB. The Parliament consists of a Legis- lative Council and a House of Assembly. The former is composed of twenty- four members. Every three years the eight members whose names are first on the roll retire, and their places are supplied by two new members elected from each of the four districts into which the colony is divided for this purpose. The executive has no power to dissolve this body The qualifications of an elector to the Legislative Council are to be twenty-one years of age, a natural born or naturalised subject of Her Majesty, and have been on the electoral roll six months, besides having a freehold of 50i. Talue, or a leasehold of 20Z. annual value, or occupying a clwelling-hoase of 25Z. annual value. By the Constitu- tion Amendment Act, 1894, the franchise was extended to women. The qualification for a member of Council is merely that he be thirty years of age, a natural born or naturalised subject, and a resident in the province for three years. The Prcsidejit of the Council is elected by the members. Each member of the Council, and also of the House of Assembly, receives 200^. per annum and a free pass over government railways.

The House of Assembly consists of fifty-four members, elected for three years, representing twenty-seven electoral districts. The qualifications for an elector are that of having been on the electoral roll for six months, and of having arrived at twenty-one years of age ; and the qualifications for a member are the same. There were 134,886 registered electors in 1897. Judges and ministers of religion are ineligible for election as members. The election of members of both houses takes place by ballot.

The executive is vested in a Governor appointed by the Crown and an Executive Council, consisting of six responsible ministers.

Governor of South Australia. — The Right Hon. Lord Tennyson; born August 11, 1852. Appointed Governor of South Australia, February 2, 1899.

The Chief Justice, being also Lieutenant-Governor, acts pending a new appointment, or during the absence of the Governor.

The Governor, who is at the same time commander-in-chief of the forces, marine and military, has a salary of 4,000Z. per annum. The ministry is divided into six departments, presided over by the following members : —

Chief Secretary.— Row. J. V. O'Loghlin, M.L.C.

Premier and Attorney -General. — Right Hon. C. C. Kingston, Q.O., M.P.

Treasurer and Minister Controlling Northern Territory. — Hon. F. W

Holder, M.P. Commissioner of Crown Lands. — Hon. L. O'Loughlin, M.P. Commissioner of Public Works. — Hon. J. G. Jenkins, M.P. Minister of Education and Agriculture. — Hon. Richard Butler, M.P.

The Ministers have a salary of 1,000Z. per annum each. They are jointly md individually responsible to the Legi.slature for all their official acts, as in he United Kingdom.

The settled part of the colony is divided into counties, hundreds, muni-

ipalitics, and district councils, the last l)eing the most general, as they

ovei- most of the settled districts. The ratepayers have the power of levying

rates, &c., and applying the funds for road-making purposes. There are 44

•ounties, blocks of country thrown open for agricultural purposes, There ave