Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/658

 310 THE BHITIS'EP EMl»IilE: — ViCTOtllA

Members of the Legislative Assembly are entitled to reitn^ bursement for expenses at the rate of 300^. per annum, and members of both Houses have free passes over all the railways.

In 1898 the number of electors on the roll of the Legisla- tive Council was 130,545 ; the number of electors on the roll of the Legislative Assembly was 252,560. Of the former all but 1,020, and of the latter all but 46,672, are ratepayers.

Governor. — Kight Hon. Lord Brassey, K.C.B. Appointed 1895.

The Governor's Salary is 7,000^. per annum.

The Governor is likewise commander-in-chief of the colonial troops. In the exercise of the executive he is assisted by a Cabinet of responsible ministers, composed as follows : —

Premier and Treasurer. — The Eight Hon. Sir George Turner, K.C.M.G., M.L.A.

Chief Secretary and Minister of Public Instruction. — Hon. A. J. Peacock, M.L.A.

Attorney-General. — Hon. Isaac /saacs, M.L.A.

Solicitor-General. — Hon. Sir Henry CiUhhert, K.C.M.G., M.L.C.

Covimissioner of Trade and Customs, President of the Board of Land and IVorks and Commissioner of Croivn Lands and Survey. — Hon, R. W. Best M.L.A.

Postmaster-General. — Hon. J. G. Duffy, M.L.A.

Minister of Defence. — Hon. W. McCulloch, M.L.A.

Minister of Mines and Water Supply. — Hon. H. Foster, M.L.A.

Minister of Agriculture and. Commissioner of Public Works. — Hon. J. W. Taverner, M.L.A.

Minister of Bailivays and Minister of Health. — Hon. H. R. Williams^ M.L A.

Portfolio without Q^cc— Hon. S. Williamson, M.L.C.

Under the Constitution Act 15,500^. was set apart for salaries of ministers, but owing to retrenchment the amount has been reduced to 10,400Z. — the Premier receiving 1,400Z. and the other ministers 1,000^. each. At least four of the ministers must be members of either the Legislative Council or the Assembly, but not more than eight may at any one time be members of the Assembly.

Local Government.

For purposes of local administration the colony is divided into urban and rural municipalities. The former, called cities, towns, and boroughs, ought not to be of a greater area than nine square miles, and in being constituted must contain at least 300 householders. The latter, called shires, are portions of country, of undelined extent, containing rateable property capable of yielding a revenue of 500^. In 1896 there were 58 urban and 150 rural muni- cipalities, all but a very small portion of the whole area of the colony being included within their limits. Every ratepayer has one or more votes, according to the amount of his rates.

Area and Population.

The colony, first settled in 1835, formed for a time a portion of New South Wales, bearing the name of the Port Phillip dis- trict. It was erected in 1851 — by Imperial Act of Parliament,