ALSACE-LORRAINE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1003, 19 December 1910, Page 7

ALSACE-LORRAINE

NOVEL FRANCHISE GRANTED,;,-,, JJy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rcc. December 18, 5.5 p.m.) • . !•' Berlin, December. 17., The Federal, Council has assented to a constitution for Alsace-Lorraine. The First, Chamber will consist' of 18 members," and the Second Chamber af 60. • Members will be elected by secret ballot,, and the franchise is given to all adult males 25 years old,, two votes, being allowed.to electors over 25 years of age, and three votes to those over, 45 y?ars.

The provinces of Alsace.and Lorraine were ceded by France to -Germnay after lie war of 1870. -Th?y are about half as large again as Hawke's . Bay,' and have a. population ,of nearly two millions.'The administration is under a GovernorGeneral appointed by the Emperor, and tearing the title of "Statthalter." There as also a. Landesausschuss, or Provincial Committee of 58 members, which attends to local, legislation. All proposed laws have first to be submitted to the German Federal Council for approval before the Provincial Committee is allowed to consider them.' If they are approved: they diave again to be submitted to the Federal Council. The' people of AlsaceiLorriune have fought steadily for local .Autonomy ever since 1871. ,