CHAP. VII] THE UPPER HOUSES 535
thirty years, and a natural-born or a naturalized subject
of His Majesty, who has resided within the state for the full
period of three years. No person can be elected a member
if he owes allegiance to a foreign power, is a Government
contractor, is insane, or has been attainted of treason or
convicted of felony or an infamous crime, is an uncertified
bankrupt, or is a member of the Federal Parliament.
A seat may be resigned, and the seat is vacated by member-
ship of the Federal Parliament, absence without leave for one
month, by acceptance of office of profit (except ministerial
offices) or pension, by loss of nationality, by bankruptcy, or
conviction for treason or felony, and by lunacy.
The franchise for elections to the Legislative Council is
possessed by adult British subjects of either sex who are—
(a) Owners of freehold of the clear value of £50; (b) Owners
of leasehold of the clear annual value of £20 with at least
three years to run or containing a right to purchase; (c)
Occupiers of a dwelling-house of a clear annual value of £17;
‘dy Registered proprietors of a Crown lease on which there
are improvements to the value of at least £50. Postmasters
and postmistresses, police officers in charge of a police station,
railway stationmasters, head school teachers who reside in
official premises, and officiating ministers of religion are also
qualified.
Voters must have been residents for six months prior to
being placed on the rolls of the Council.2
2. The only provision limiting the power of the Legislative
Council with regard to legislation is that contained in the
first section of the South Australia Constitution Act, No. 2
of 1855-6, which provides that all Bills for ‘appropriating
any part of the revenue of the said Province, or for imposing,
altering, or repealing any rate, tax, duty, or impost. shall
originate in the House of Assembly’
There are similar disqualifications for the House of Assembly ; see
pp. 496, 497. The question of a Government contract (which arises under
an Act, No. 16 of 1868-9) has been considered in Sir J. Downer’s case ; see
Legislative Council Debates, 1910, p. 600; Parl. Pap., No. 115. The re-
striction to males seems correct, but has been doubted.
1 Qee the Flectoral Code. 1908.
