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 204

THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — AUSTRALIA

legislative authority in all matters which are not transferred to the FeJcral Parliament, which is thus a government of limited and enumerated powers, the several State Parliaments retaining the residuary power of government over their respeetive territories. With respect to money bills, the House of Representatives has special powers, and provision is made for cases of dis- agreement between the two Houses.

The Executive power, vested in the King, is exercisable by the Governor- General, who is assisted by an Executive Council of responsible Ministers of State. These Ministers are, or must become within three months, members of the Federal Parliament; they are paid salaries not exceeding, in all, 12,000Z. a year. The Executive Government of the CommouAvealth is constituted as follows: —

Governor-General. — His Excellency the Pvight Hon. Thomas, Baron Denman, P.O., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., Commander-in-Chief oi the Common- wealth of Australia and its Dependencies.

Prime Minister and Treasurer. — Rt. Hon. A. Fisher, P.C.

Attorney -General.— '^on W. M. Hughes.

External Affairs. — 'Hon. J. Tliomas.

Minister of Home Affairs. — Hon. K. O'Malley,

Postmaster -General. — Hon. C. E. Fra;::er.

Minister of Defence. — Hon. G. F. Pcarce.

Minister of Trade and Customs. — Hon. F, G. Tudor.

Vice-President of the Exeeutire Council. — Senator the Hon. G, JNlcGjegor.

Honorary Ministers.— SenatoY the Hon. E. Findley and the Hon. E. A. Roberts.

High Commissioner for Australia iii Lovdun. — The Right Hon. Sir George Houstoun Reid, P.C, K.C., G.C.M.G., 72 Victoria Street, AVestminster, S.W.

The Constitution provides for a Federal Judicature, for an inter-State Commission on Trade and Commerce, for the transfer of State officials, State property, and State debts to the Commonwealth, for the collection and expenditure of duties during the transition period, and for alteration of the Constitution. A High Court (consisting of 5 judges) has been established, with original as well as appellate jurisdiction. The selection of the Yass- Canberra site for the Federal Capital was voted in the Senate and House of Representatives, and in 1910, the Commonwealth acquired from the State of New South Wales an area of approximately 900 square miles. An area of 2 square miles at Jervis Bay was also acquired for purposes of a Naval College, and the right to construct a railway from the Capital thereto. At present the Federal Government has its seat at Melbourne.

Area and Population.

•

Area

Population!

states

1911

December 31,

Census.

1911 (estimated)

Sq. Miles

New South Wales ....

310,372

1,648,448 2

1,674,704-

Victoria

ST, 884

1,315,551

1,362,794

Queensland

070,500

605,813

622,129

South Australia

380,070

408,558

418,172

Nortliern Territory ....

523,620

3,310

3,248

Western A'jstralia ....

975,920

282,114

294,181

Tasmania

26,215

191,211

193,479

Total ....

2,974,581

4,455,005

4,568,707

. ' Excluding Aborigines. '-^ Including 1,714 in Federal Capital Territory,

y Including 1,921 in Federal Capital Territory.