CHAP. VI] THE LOWER HOUSES 503 
of-the-way constituencies, but in 1896 in the Dominion House 
it was decided to adopt the date fixed for the return of the 
writs, not of the actual return, and the rule has applied 
senerally since.l 
§ 4 PayMENT oF MEMBERS 2 
In all the Parliaments some payment is made to members. 
In the case of Australia, in the Parliament of the Common- 
wealth members of both Houses received first £400 and by 
Act No. 5 of 1907 £600 a year; in the case of New South 
Wales the Legislative Councillors 2 are not paid, but under 
Acts No. 32 of 1902 and No. 41 of 1906 the members of the 
Legislative Assembly receive £300 a year and postages, and in 
Victoria (where there is a property franchise and qualification 
for the Upper House), under Act No. 1075, and Queensland, 
ander Acts of 1896, No. 15, and of 1909, No. 18, the same 
rule applies. In South Australia, under Act No. 399, and 
Western Australia? under Act No. 34 of 1900, members of 
both Houses receive £200 per annum; and in Tasmania 
£100 per annum by Act No. 51 of 1900, increased to £150 
by Act No. 53 of 1910. In all cases the members receive 
free railway passes on the state railways. 
In the case of New Zealand the members of the Legislative 
Council receive £200 a year payable monthly, and members 
of the House of Representatives £25 a month or £300 a year, 
with deductions for non-attendance, and with travelling 
expenses, under the Consolidated Statutes, 1908, No. 101. 
! Bourinot, Constitution of Canada, p. 61, note 4. For the case of 
Ontario, cf. the Act of 1879 (42 Vict. c. 4, s. 3); Revised Statutes. 1897, 
e. 12, and the Act of 1908, c. 5, s. 4. 
* See Parl. Pap., H. C. 80, 1911, a not very accurate return. 
4 In Queensland and New South Wales this is due to their being nominee. 
4 Increased to £300 for both Houses by Act No. 33 of 1911. In Canada 
and Queensland the leader of the Opposition gets an extra salary. But 
n Ontario the leader has declined such a proposal, and so in Western 
Australia in 1910; the Act, however, as in the case of Queensland, provides 
£200 extra for him. In Canada the salary is $7,000 extra. In South 
Australia, under Act No. 1025, the question of an increase to £300 was 
submitted to a referendum in April 1911, and negatived. There were for 
long disputes over the policy of payment; cf. Attorney-General of New 
South Wales v. Rennie, 16 N. S. W. L. R, 111; [1896] A. C. 376.