NEW ZEALAND 



The central government consisted of a Parliament and 

 and a viceroy or governor, appointed by the Colonial office 

 to be commander in chief of the Queen's forces in the 

 Colony with the power to appoint such persons as the Crown 

 might desire to be members of the Legislative Council or 

 Upper House of Parliament, to dissolve Parliament at his 

 pleasure and to reserve bills for the consideration of the 

 Home Government. Though much in evidence in the early 

 years, the Governor has long since ceased to be active. 

 From 1868 the real executive has been the Prime Minister of 

 the Colony and his Cabinet and the Governor has become a 

 figurehead which the Colony pays for. The central legis- 

 lative power was placed in a General Assembly, consisting 

 of the Governor, the Legislative Council (or Senate) and 

 the House of Representatives. The Upper House was 

 composed of such persons, not less than 10, as the Governor 

 under the Queen's authorization might summon and they 

 were to hold their positions for life. The tenure now is 7 

 years and these appointments are now made on the 

 recommendation of the Prime Minister and his cabinet. 

 The total number of the Upper House now is 44. 



The House of Representatives is elective, only men 

 having a certain property qualification and residence were 

 under the Constitution allowed to vote or become members 

 of this House, and the Parliament was for a five year term 

 unless sooner dissolved by the Governor ; but all these 

 provisions were subject to change, and have been changed. 

 No property qualification is now necessary to a vote, and 

 both men and women have that right. The parliamentary 

 term is now only three years. Since 1902 there have been 

 80 members in this House, 76 European representatives 

 and 4 Maoris. 



The General Assembly may make laws "not repugnant 

 to the law of England," with a few specified exceptions 

 relating to duties on military imports, exemptions, bounties, 

 drawbacks or other privileges in respect to any imports or 



