THREAT TO STRIKE IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1924, 5 December 1913, Page 7

THREAT TO STRIKE IN PARLIAMENT.

SOCIALIST ATTACK ON BELGIAN CONSTITUTION. By Telccrrapli—Press Acsoclailon—OooyrJeht "Times"—Sydney "&un" Special Cables. (Rec. December 4, 7.25 p.m.) Brussells, December 3. The Socialist party has resolved that it is ready to declare a- Parliamentary strike, provided the Opposition co-oper-ates, until tho Government agrees to reviso t'ho Constitution. By tho constitution of '31, following on tho secession from the Netherlands in '30, Belgium was declared to boa constitutional and hereditary monarchy. Belgium is a neutral power, her neutrality being ga'uarimtecil under the Treaties ot London, 18111 and 183 SI, by Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia, the executive power is vested in the King and his Jlinisters, the legislative power jointly in King, Senate, and Cknm.:w of Deputies. Tho principle of manhood suffrage with compulsory voting prevails, tempered by the plural vote and proportional representation of minorities, based upon a somewhat intricate system. All citizens over 25, who liavo lived at least a year in tho same commune, have a vote. Aii additional voto is accorded them if they nre (1) either 35 years of age, mar<ricd, with legitimate offspring, and pay a tax of at least sfr. to tho State; or (2) are 25 years old and own immovable property to the value of at least 2000fr., or have a corresponding income from such property, or for two yeare have received at least lOOfr. a year from Belgian, funds. Two additional votes are given to citizens of 25 years of age who possess a diploma of higher education or have filled a public or private position implying the possession of such education. JSo citizen can have moro than three votes. From this electorate both Houses of the Legislature aro chosen, .save for those Senators who nre elected indirectly. Tho Senate of 120 members is elected for eight years. The number of members elected directly is equally to half the nuinusr of deputies. The indirectly elected senators are chosen bv the provincial councils, 2 for each province with less than 500,0)0 inhabitants; 3 for eaeli with more than 5C0.000 and less than 1,000,000, and i for each with over 1,000,000. The Deputies aro elected for four years, in the proportion of 1 to every 40,000 inhabitants, and number IBG. One-half retire every two years. Senators must be '10, and deputies 25 years of age. Each deputy receives -IOOOfr. yearly, and travels free.