The Governor.

The Governor is appointed by the Queen, the Colony having no voice whatever, directly or indirectly, in the selection. New Zealand has, however, been exceedingly fortunate, her Governors, with hardly an exception, having been gentlemen who, well understanding their duties, have performed them in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. Since the passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act in 1852, the functions of the Governor have gradually moderated from those of an autocrat to those of a social and nominally political leader of the Colony. The salary attached to the office is £5000 per annum, and is, of course, provided by the Colony. For many years the remuneration was £7500, but it was reduced to its present sum by an Act passed in the session of 1887, which came into operation on the arrival of His Excellency the Earl of Onslow on the 2nd of May, 1889.

The Executive Council.

The members of the Executive Council are appointed by the Governor, and may be removed at his pleasure, but His Excellency is expected to act, as nearly as may be, in accordance with the wishes of the people as expressed by the forms and usages generally understood as party tactics. The Premier holds considerable power, as he may at any time place in His Excellency's hands the resignation of himself and party. They are chosen from both Houses, but mainly from the elected body. About a score of portfolios are divided among six Ministers, and two are “without portfolio.” The Premier's salary is £1000, and his ministerial colleagues receive £800 per annum each.

The present is the twenty-seventh Ministry since the establishment of responsible government in 1856, the average life of Ministries in New Zealand being, therefore, about a year and a half. The longest term enjoyed by any Ministry was a little over five years, the Stafford Ministry taking office on the 2nd of June, 1856, and retiring on the 12th of July, 1861. Responsible Government was but twenty-six days old when this, the third Ministry, came into power, the two preceding administrations having each lived thirteen days. But even these were not the shortest lived, for there have been two of twelve days each, and one of six. Seventy-eight honourable gentlemen have, for shorter or longer periods held appointments on the Executive Council since the 7th of May, 1856.

A slight variation in the methods of Party Government has more than once been proposed in the shape of an Act to provide for the election of the Executive Council; and there is a strong probability that this will rank among the reforms which must follow the complete enfranchisement of the adult population which now obtains in this Colony. page 20 A majority in the Lower House has not yet been secured, but each time the Bill is introduced it gains numerical assistance; and, judged in the light of history, it may be said to have an excellent chance of becoming law at no very distant date. The proposal is that the Executive Council shall consist of seven members elected by and from the House of Representatives, and one by and from the Upper Chamber. Six of those elected by the Lower House are to hold the portfolios, including the Premiership, and the other two members of the Executive are to be “without portfolio.” It is proposed that the Executive shall be elected immediately on the assembling of a new Parliament, and continue in office until their successors shall be elected by the next Parliament, except that the Governor or a majority in Parliament may remove Ministers, if such course be deemed desirable.

Legislative Council.

“Members of the Legislative Council hold their seats under writs of summons from the Governor. Till the year 1891 the appointments were for life; but in September of that year an Act was passed making such appointments after that time tenable for seven years only, though Councillors may be re-appointed. In either case seats may be vacated by resignation or extended absence. Two members of the Council are aboriginal native chiefs.”

The House Of Representatives.

“The members of the House of Representatives are elected for three years from the time of each general election; but at any time the dissolution of Parliament by the Governor may necessitate such general election. Four of the members are representatives of Native constituencies. An Act was passed in 1887 which provided that, on the termination of the then General Assembly, the number of members to be thereafter elected to the House of Representatives should be seventy-four in all, of whom four were to be elected, under the provisions of the Maori Representation Acts, as representatives of Maori electors only. For the purposes of European representation the Colony is divided into sixty-two electoral districts, four of which — the Cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin—return each three members, and all the other electorates one each. Members of the House of Representatives are chosen by the votes of the inhabitants in every electoral district appointed for that purpose.”

Electors.

The electors, who directly choose the Lower House, and indirectly appoint the Upper Chamber, are in New Zealand the all-powerful rulers. Adult suffrage is in full swing, and the secrets of the ballot-box are inviolable. In voting-power the servant girl, therefore, is equal to her millionaire master, for “no person is entitled to be registered on more than one electoral roll within the Colony, whatever the number or nature of the qualifications he or she may possess, or whatever they may be. Women are not qualified for election to the House of Representatives or for appointment to the Legislative Council.”

The “freehold” qualification consists in the possession of a freehold valued at or over £25, for at least six months prior to registration; and the “residential” qualification is by virtue of a twelve-months' residence in the Colony, and a three-months' residence in the particular district for which registration is claimed.

Commercial travellers, seamen, and shearers actually employed as such, are allowed to take out “electors' rights,” which enable them to exercise their votes though absent from their districts on the day of election.

Another important change made by “The Electoral Act of 1893” is the striking off the Roll of the name of every elector who has failed to record his or her vote at the preceding election, thus necessitating the re-registration of all electors who may be desirous of voting at the next election, but who, through absence, forgetfulness, or design, neglected to vote at the last.

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