A.—s

6

Eleotoral divisions. 29. Until the Parliament of the Commonwealth otherwise provides, the Parliament of any State may make laws for determining the divisions in each State for which members of the House of Eepresentatives may be chosen, and the number of members to be chosen for each division. A division shall not be formed out of parts of different States. In the absence of other provision, each State shall be one electorate. Qualification of electors. 30. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, the qualification of electors of members of the House of Eepresentatives shall be in each State that which is prescribed by the law of the State as the qualification of electors of the more numerous House of Parliament of the State; but in the choosing of members each elector shall vote only once. Application of State laws. 31. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, but subject to this Constitution, the laws in force in each State for the time being relating to elections for the more numerous House of the Parliament of the State shall, as nearly as practicable, apply to elections in the State of members of the House of Representatives. Writs for general election. 32. The Governor-General in Council may cause writs to be issued for general elections of members of the House of Eepresentatives. After the first general election, the writs shall be issued within ten days from the expiry of a House of Eepresentatives or from the proclamation of a dissolution thereof. Writs for vacancies. 33. Whenever a vacancy happens in the House of Eepresentatives, the Speaker shall issue his writ for the election of a new member, or if there is no Speaker, or if he is absent from the Commonwealth, the Governor-General in Council may issue the writ. Qualifications of members. 34. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, the qualifications of a member of the House of Eepresentatives shall be as follows : — (1.) He must be of the full age of twenty-one years, and must be an elector entitled to vote at the election of members of the House of Eepresentatives, or a person qualified to become such elector, and must have been for three years at the least a resident within the limits of the Commonwealth as existing at the time when he is chosen : (2.) He must be a subject of the Queen, either natural-born or for at least five years naturalised under a law of the United Kingdom, or of a colony which has become or becomes a State, or of the Commonwealth, or of a State. Election of Speaker. 35. The House of Eepresentatives shall, before proceeding to the despatch of any other business, choose a member to be the Speaker of the House, and as often as the office of Speaker becomes vacant the House shall again choose a member to be the Speaker. The Speaker shall cease to hold his office if he ceases to be a member. He may be removed from office by a vote of the House, or he may resign his office or his seat by writing addressed to the Governor-General. Absence of Speaker. 36. Before or during any absence of the Speaker, the House of Eepresentatives may choose a member to perform his duties in his absence. Eesignation of Member. 37. A member may by writing addressed to the Speaker, or to[«th,e Governor-General if there is no Speaker or the Speaker is absent from the Commonwealth, resign his place, which thereupon shall become vacant. Vacancy by Absence. 38. The place of a member shall become vacant if for two consecutive months of any session of the Parliament he, without the permission of the House, fails to attend the House. Quorum. 39. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, the presence of at least one-third of the whole number of the members of the House of Eepresentatives shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the House for the exercise of its powers. Voting in House of Representatives. 40. Questions arising in the House of Eepresentatives shall be determined by a majority of votes other than that of the Speaker. The Speaker shall not vote unless the numbers are equal, and then he shall have a casting-vote. Pact IV.—Both Houses op the Parliament. Right of Electors of States. 41. No adult person who has or acquires a right to vote at elections for the more numerous House of Parliament of a State shall, while the right continues, be prevented by any law of the Commonwealth from voting at elections for either House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth.