CHAP. vii] RELATIONS OF THE HOUSES 631
adoption of the system of preferential voting, which results
In the absence of any strong or clearly defined purpose in
the Lower House. Further, the fact that the Legislative
Council has eighteen members only, holding office for six
years, and that the House of Assembly consists of thirty
embers, renders effective pressure by a small majority
In the Lower House out of the question. The tone of the
Upper House is decidedly plutocratic compared to that of
the Lower House, for the elector must either be in possession
of a freehold estate of £10 or a leasehold estate of £30 annual
value, or be a graduate, a qualified legal or medical prac-
titioner, a minister of religion, or an officer of the army or
Navy. On the other hand, democracy in Tasmania, partly
OWing to the presence in the country of a large number of
Persons of moderate means, is a feeble plant compared with
democracy in other parts of Australia, and there does not
appear to be any such degree of dissatisfaction with the
relations between the two Houses as would lead one to expect
that the powers of the Upper House will be lessened! But
there can be no doubt that Tasmania remains the least
Progressive part of the Commonwealth, from which, of course,
1b is separated in space and still more in feeling.
§ 4. WESTERN AUSTRALIA
v ig case of Western Australia the period of the existence
to ae Parliament has been too short to render it possible
Te te what position the Upper House will achieve,
Houses 16 will gain the independent strength of the Upper
it wy of Victoria ; South Australia,and Tasmania, or whether
ed moderate its claims and merely serve as a useful
CX on the Lower Honse.
* In 1908 it rejected proposals for a land tax, for land purchase, for
hospitals, and for factory regulation ; Hobart Mercury, November 21, 1908.
In 1910 threw out a Bill for closer settlement, despite the feeling through-
Out Australia that such settlement is urgently needed. The tenure of
office by Councillors was reduced (see Act 49 Vict. No. 8) to six years, and
the franchise has been made broader by 64 Vict. No. 5. The Lower House
'% Powerfully influenced by Labour, which owes its strong position there to
the preferential vote. as shown in 1909. See also above, p. 200.
