526 PARLIAMENTS OF THE DOMINIONS [PART III
differences which may arise between the Legislative Council
and the Legislative Assembly, whether with regard to matters
of finance or to general legislation, but the number of the
Upper House is not limited, and the Governor has power to
add members to such extent as he thinks fit,
(¢) Victoria
Under the Constitution Act 18 and 19 Vict. ¢. 55 and the
Amending Acts, Nos, 1075, 1723, 1864, and 2075, the Legis-
lative Council of Victoria consists of thirty-four members, who
are elected for seventeen provinces, two for each province.
Members hold office for six years, but one member for each
province retires every third year, unless there is a dissolution
of the Council, in which case one half of the members hold
their seats for three years only, the one receiving the fewest
votes retiring first. The quorum is twelve,
A member must be of the full age of thirty years and
a natural-born subject of His Majesty, or who has been
naturalized for ten years previous to election, and has
resided during that period in Victoria. He must also for
one year previous to the election have been legally or
equitably seised of or entitled to an estate of freehold in
possession for his own use and benefit of lands and tenements
in Victoria of the annual value of £50 above all charges and
encumbrances affecting the same, other than any public or
parliamentary tax, or municipal or other rate or assessment.
No person can become a member who is—(1) a judge of any
court of Victoria ; (2) a minister of religion ; (8) attainted
of any treason, or convicted of any felony or infamous offence
within any part of His Majesty’s dominions ; (4) an uncerti-
ficated bankrupt or insolvent ; (5) a public contractor,
except in a partnership of more than twenty persons ;
(8) a member of the Legislative Assembly ; or (7) of
the Commonwealth Parliament ; or (8) who is insane ; or
(9) a Government officer other than a Minister
A member may resign his seat, and his seat becomes
vacant if he—(1) ceases to be possessed of the property
qualification ; or (2) is absent for one entire session without
. * There are analogous disqualifications for the Assembly, but no property
franchise there exists. See above, p. 495,
