Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- ERRATA
- CHAPTER XV GENERAL CONDITION OF AUSTRALIA AND STATISTICS
- CHAPTER XVI FURTHER ALTERATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONS
- CHAPTER XVII EXPLORATION AND ABORIGINES
- CHAPTER XVIII POWERS OF HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT—INTERCAMERAL DIFFERENCES—ATTACK ON THE COUNCIL IN SYDNEY—TACKS IN VICTORIA—SIR C. DARLING
- CHAPTER XIX PAYMENT OF MEMBERS—COLONIAL DEFENCES—IMPERIAL RELATIONS—REFORM BILLS IN VICTORIA—PARLIAMENTS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, AND QUEENSLAND, AND COUNCIL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
- CHAPTER XX RELIGION AND EDUCATION—GOVERNORS—LABOUR-TRADE AND KIDNAPPING—FIJI—JUDICIAL AND JURY SYSTEMS—PUBLIC WORKS—FREE SELECTION OF LAND IN NEW SOUTH WALES—EDUCATION IN VICTORIA
- CHAPTER XXI GOVERNORS—ALIENATION OF CROWN LANDS IN VICTORIA, QUEENSLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA—NEW GUINEA—STATISTICS AND GENERAL CONDITION OF AUSTRALIA
- Title in the series
- INDEX
CHAPTER XVIII - POWERS OF HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT—INTERCAMERAL DIFFERENCES—ATTACK ON THE COUNCIL IN SYDNEY—TACKS IN VICTORIA—SIR C. DARLING
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- ERRATA
- CHAPTER XV GENERAL CONDITION OF AUSTRALIA AND STATISTICS
- CHAPTER XVI FURTHER ALTERATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONS
- CHAPTER XVII EXPLORATION AND ABORIGINES
- CHAPTER XVIII POWERS OF HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT—INTERCAMERAL DIFFERENCES—ATTACK ON THE COUNCIL IN SYDNEY—TACKS IN VICTORIA—SIR C. DARLING
- CHAPTER XIX PAYMENT OF MEMBERS—COLONIAL DEFENCES—IMPERIAL RELATIONS—REFORM BILLS IN VICTORIA—PARLIAMENTS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, AND QUEENSLAND, AND COUNCIL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
- CHAPTER XX RELIGION AND EDUCATION—GOVERNORS—LABOUR-TRADE AND KIDNAPPING—FIJI—JUDICIAL AND JURY SYSTEMS—PUBLIC WORKS—FREE SELECTION OF LAND IN NEW SOUTH WALES—EDUCATION IN VICTORIA
- CHAPTER XXI GOVERNORS—ALIENATION OF CROWN LANDS IN VICTORIA, QUEENSLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA—NEW GUINEA—STATISTICS AND GENERAL CONDITION OF AUSTRALIA
- Title in the series
- INDEX
Summary
The mode in which the Constitutions of the several colonies worked while new men feverishly aspired to office, and courted popularity by creating resentment against a second Chamber when it exercised powers guaranteed by the letter of the law, deserves close consideration. In New South Wales the Council, or Upper House, being nominated by the Crown, was jealously regarded by the elected Lower House on all questions affecting Money Bills. This was natural, and was not resented by the Council. The members nominated by Sir W. Denison stood so high in public estimation that it would have been difficult for passionate members of the Assembly to create hostility against them. The roll of 1857 discloses the names of the Chief Justice, Sir A. Stephen; Justices Dickinson and Therry; a retired Judge, the upright Sir W. W. Burton; Deas Thomson, Plunkett, and Merewether, already mentioned in these pages; distinguished members of the legal and medical professions; settlers; merchants; and others of high repute. The Constitution had provided a minimum of 21 members. In 1858 there were 42.
As Constitutional difficulties in Australia have often arisen from contests about the powers and the composition of Upper Houses, a study of the circumstances of each colony is requisite. The men upon whom fell the task of dealing with problems of State were often unfit for it, but not the less were their rash acts destined to affect the future of the community which they distracted.
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- History of Australia , pp. 254 - 379Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011First published in: 1883