Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/438

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316 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — VICTORIA

Norfolk Island, 29° S. latitude, 103° E. longitude, area 10 square miles, population 0tl7, administered since 1003 by an executive council of a President, two elected and four appointed members. Lord Howe Island, 31° 30' S., 150° E., population 107. Both are administered by the (lovernraent of New South Wales, but the latter island is, while the former is not, politically connected with the Commonwealth of Australia.

Books of Reference.

The Official Year-Book of New South Wales. Published annually by Government Statistician. Sydney.

New South Wales Statistical Register. Published annually by Government Statistican. Sydney.

Statistical Bulletin of New South Wales. Published monthly. Government Statis- tician. Sydney.

Agricultural and Live Stock Statistics.— Preliminary Tables and Reports, 1909-10.— Published by Government Statistician. Sydney.

A Guide for Immigrants and Settlers. Issued by Intelligence Department, Sydney. 111. 1906.

Australian Historical Society Journal. Quarterly. Sydney.

Official Reports of Railway Commissioners : Mines Department ; Department of Lands; Department of Agriculture ; Public Works ; Public Instruction ; Board of Water Supply and Sewerage : Svdney Harbour Trust Commissioners. Published annually. Sydney.

David (T. W. Edgeworth), New South Wales, Historical, Physiographical and Economic. Melbourne and London, lOTJ.

VICTORIA

Constitution and Government.

Victoria, formerly a portion of New South M'^ales, was, in 1851, proclaimed a separate colony, with a partially elective Legislative Council, and in 18.55 responsible self-government was conferred. The legislative authority is vested in a Parliament of two Chambers. By an Act of 1906, separate representation of State public servants was abolished, and the upper house now consists of 34 members, elected for six years, and the lower of 65, elected for three years (unless sooner dissolved). Members of the Council must be in possession of an estate of the net annual value of 50Z. for one year prior to their election ; and electors must be in the possession or occupancy of property of the rateable value of 101. per annum if derived from freehold, or of 151. if derived from leasehold or the occupation of rented property. No electoral property qualification is required for graduates of I'ritish or Colonial universities, matriculated students of the Melbourne University, ministers of religion of any denomination, certificated teachers, lawyers, medical practitioners, and officers of the army and navy active and retired. One-half of the members of the Legislative Council retire every three years. The members of the Legislative Assembly require no property qualification, and are elected by universal suffrage, and no person may vote in more than one district, nor twice in the same district. The franchise was conferred on women by the Adult Suffrage Act of 1908. Clergymen of any religious denomination are not allowed to hold seats in either the Legislative Council or the Legislative Assembly.

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

(Governor. — Hon. Sir John Michael Fleetwood Fuller, Bart, K.C.M.G. (Salary 5,000Z.)

Lieutenant Governor. — Hon. Sir John Madden, G.C.M.G., LL.D.

In the exercise of the executive he is as.sisted by a Cabinet of responsible ministers.