502 PARLIAMENTS OF THE DOMINIONS [PART T1I 
§ 3. Tue DURATION OF PARLIAMENT 
The duration of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth, 
and of all the six Australian States and of the Dominion of 
New Zealand, is now reduced to three years. In Canada, 
under the British North America Act, 1867, the Federal Parlia- 
ment lasts for five years ; the Parliament of Ontario lasts for 
four years, extended only temporarily by two months in 1901; 
that of Quebec, which was given a duration of four years by 
the British North America Act, has under a Quebec statute of 
1881 (Revised Statutes, 1909, s. 115) been extended to five 
years. The House of Assembly of Nova Scotia has a duration 
since 1897 of five years; the House of Assembly of New 
Brunswick, which in 1795 was given a duration of seven years 
and in 1842 a duration of four years, had, under an Act of 
1896 (c. 5), a duration of four years and two months, and 
since 1900 of five years and two months. The Legislative 
Assemblies’ of Manitoba, British Columbia, and Prince 
Edward Island last for four years; and the Legislative 
Assemblies of Saskatchewan? and Alberta for five years. 
The House of Assembly of Newfoundland has a duration 
of four years; that of the Parliament of the Union of 
South Africa is five years, as formerly in the Cape, 
Transvaal, and Orange River Colony, against four in Natal. 
In all cases a Parliament must by law annually be held 
50. that twelve months shall not intervene between the last 
session of one and the first session of the new Parliament. 
Difficulties have been caused with regard to this provision 
in. Canada by questions as to return of members for out- 
! Fixed at three years by the constitution, s. 28. In New South Wales 
the original five years’ period disappeared in 1874; in Victoria (Act No. 89, 
s. 2) and Queensland (in 1890) also it has gone, and in Tasmania by Act 54 
Viet. No. 58. In South Australia it has always been three years (Consti- 
tution Act, s. 3). In Western Australia it was four years (63 & 54 Vict. 
¢. 26, sched. s. 14), but is reduced to three years by 63 Vict. No. 19, s. 21. 
To restore it to four years has been proposed ; Parliamentary Debates. 
1910-1, p. 828. For New Zealand, see the Act of 1879. 
* Originally four years by Act 1906, c. 4, increased by 1908, ¢. 4. For 
Alberta, originally four years, see now Act 1909, c. 2; for Manitoba, Canada 
Act, 33 Vict. c. 3 ; for Prince Edward Island, 1908, c. 1; for Ontario. 1908. 
¢. 5; and for the rest, the Revised Statutes.