Throughout this volume "M.P." is the affix given to all Members of the Commonwealth House of Representatives, and to them only. The Commonwealth Parliament is a Parliament by Act of the Imperial Legislature, and the members of its representative House are officially styled M.P. in all official documents, and by the Colonial Office. The letters "M.L.A." denote a member of the Legislative Assembly in the States of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, and the affix "M.H.A." is used in respect of a member of the House of Assembly in the States of South Australia and Tasmania. The letters "M.H.R." indicate membership of the New Zealand House of Representatives.
The members of both Houses of the first Parliament of the Commonwealth were granted by His Majesty the King: the privilege of using: the title "Honourable" for life within the Commonwealth.
The prefix "Honourable" is by local custom adopted by the members of the Federal Executive Council and by the members of the Executive and Legislative Councils of the States and of the Dominion of New Zealand. Members of the Federal Ministry and of the Governments of Victoria and Tasmania having once been appointed to the Executive Council continue to hold that office for life. The use of the title "Honourable" is, however, restricted in the case of members of the Governments of the other Australian States and the Dominion of New Zealand to the period of actual tenure of office. Every person who has served one year as Premier, or in the aggregate three years as a Minister of the Crown, is entitled to the designation of "Honourable," which is also assumed by the Speaker of the Lower House in each State Legislature, and is retained by Ex-Legislative Councillors In certain cases by the King's permission.
