By the Constitutional Amendment Act (1903), the Legislative Council of Victoria consists of 34 members, one of whom is directly elected by, and represents, the public and rail way servants: the others are elected by quali fied voters of whom there are three classes, viz.: (1) owners of freehold land of the an nual value of DO; (2) rate-paying occupiers of land of the annual value of #15; (3) uni versity and professional men. The property qualifications of a member of the Council were formerly ownership of freehold land of the annual value of 1100; that has been reduced to 150. The tenure of a seat in the Council is six years, one-half the members retiring every three years. In the event of a deadlock be tween the two Houses on matters of ordinary legislation (constitutional alterations being ex cepted), the governor may, subject to certain conditions, dissolve both Houses. The council has power by message to the Assembly to sug gest amendments in the Appropriation Bill. Manhood suffrage coupled with no plural vot ing') is the franchise for the Assembly in addi tion to which, however, every owner of free hold land of the capital value of £100, and of the annual value of i5 is entitled to be regis tered for, and to record his vote in every electoral district in which such land is situated; the act abolishing plural voting prohibiting him, however, from voting more than once on the same day. There are 65 members of the As sembly. Public and railway officers are unable to vote in and for ordinary electorates; instead of which they are allowed to choose three special members to represent them in the As sembly. Members of this House receive L300 per year, and a free railway pass. Legislative councillors receive free railway passes but no payment. The Assembly is a triennial chamber, but it may be dissolved by the governor at any time. Every elector is qualified to be chosen as a member.
In Tasmania the Legislative Council con sists of 18 members elected by resident inhabit ants possessed either of freehold land of the annual value of 120, leasehold of the annual value of £40, or having university or profes sional qualification (Constitutional Amend ment Act, 1901). The Assembly consists of 30 members elected by adult suffrage coupled with residential qualification. Members of both chambers receive an honorarium of f100 each, subject to their attending a certain number of days per session. An act to confer the fran chise on women was passed in 1904.
In Queensland the Legislative Council, like that of New South Wales, is a nominated body consisting of 40 members; they are appointed by the governor in council, and subject to cer tain attendance each session they hold their seats for life; they receive no payment, but are entitled to free railway passes. The Assembly consists of 72 members elected practically by manhood suffrage; but owners of freehold land of the value of f100, and household occupiers of the annual value of £10, are entitled to vote in every electoral district in which they have that property qualification. The Assembly exists for three years unless previously dissolved, and its members receive a remuneration of £300 per year, and free railway passes, and allowances for traveling expenses. Every elector is quali
fied to be chosen a member.
In Western Australia the Legislative Council consists of 30 members elected by adult per sons having as a qualification, either, freehold lands of the capital value of f100, or leasehold of the annual value of £25, or being Crown lessees or licensees of land of the annual value of f10. The tenure of seats is six years; one third retiring every two years (Constitution Act, 1890). The Assembly consists of 50 mem bers elected by adult persons being residents of an electorate, but persons having freehold land of the capital value of £50, or leasehold land of the annual value of f10, are entitled to vote in any district in which they hold the property qualification. The Assembly, like other popular chambers of Australia, is a trien nial House. A bill conferring the franchise on women was passed in the year 1899.
Under the provisions of the Constitutional Amendment Act (1901), the number of mem bers of the Legislative Council of South Aus tralia was reduced from 24 to 18. Under earlier acts the members are elected by adults of both sexes, having as a property qualification either a freehold estate of the capital value of 450, or a leasehold of the annual value of 120 with three years to run, or being the occupiers of dwelling-houses of the annual value of f25. Members of the Council hold their seats for six years, one-half retiring every three years; unless the chamber is sooner dissolved by the governor; which can be done in cases of dis putes, or deadlocks between the two chambers extending over a certain time. By the Consti tutional Amendment Act of (1901) the number of members of the Assembly was reduced from 54 to 42. By an act passed in 1913 the num ber in the upper House was increased to 20 and in the lower House to 46. The Assembly is a triennial chamber, unless previously dissolved. In the event of a deadlock between the two Houses in reference to a proposed law it is within the power of the governor to dissolve them both, subject to the following limitations, viz.: (1) It must have been passed by the As sembly and rejected by the council in one ses sion; (2) it must have been, after a general election, passed a second time by an absolute majority of the whole number of members of the Assembly and a second time rejected by the Council. Members of both Houses are entitled to receive f200 per annum each and free passes over government railways.
Judicial Departments of Su preme Court of New South Wales is consti tuted under Act 4 Geo. IV, c. 96, and 9 Geo. IV, c. 83. It consists of a chief justice and six other justices. It has unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction. Circuit districts and Cir cuit Courts are established to try civil actions and determine crimes and misdemeanors. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction to hear appeals from all inferior courts. There are seven District Courts having jurisdiction in personal actions not exceeding and a lim ited criminal jurisdiction. Courts of Petty Ses sions having summary jurisdiction to deal with minor offenses and a limited civil jurisdiction presided over by a stipendary magistrate, or by two or more justices, exist in all cities, towns and centres of population.