20

A.—s.

Article LXlll. — Conseils munici fauna. (1.) Chaque municipality sera administree par un Conseil municipal compose de quatre 1 membres au moms et de huit membres au plus. (2.) Le Conseil municipal elira dans son sem un Maire et un Adjoint. (3.) La duree dv mandat dcs Conseillers municipaux sera de quatre annees. Article LXIV. — Elections. (1 ) Seront electeurs les personnes iion-in-digenes dcs deux sexes, de toute natioualite &gees de vingt et un ans revolus et residant depuis six mois au moms sur le territoire de la municipality a l'exclusion de celles_ ayant encouru une condamnation a plus de trois mois d'emprisonnement. (2.) Seront eligibles les electeurs dcs deux sexes ages de vingt-cinq ans re>olus. (3 ) II sera procede aux premieres elections dans les trois mois gui suivront la creation de la municipality. (4 ) Les elections auront lieu sous la surveillance de deux personnes respectivement designees par les deux Commissaires-Residents. Article LXV. Attributions dcs Gonseils municipaux. Les Conseils municipaux voteront armuellement le budget municipal et les taxes locales destinees a alimenter cc budget, ainsi que les travaux publics municipaux, dont ils determineront le mode d'execution. Ils decideront la creation dcs ecoles et dcs etablisseinents municipaux d'assistance, et, dune mamere generate, prendront toutes les mesures propres a contribuer au bien-Stre commun dcs habitants. Article LXVI. — Dispositions transitoires. ■ Sont reconnus comme municipality les deux Syndicate municipaux existant a l'lle de Vate. Le mandat dcs membres de ces Syndicate leur est jusqu'au terme de la periode pour laquelle ils out etc elus. Article LXV II .—Beglements d'Execution Les Hauts (Jommissaires ou leurs Delegues fixeront conjointement les regies d'application dcs dispositions dcs Articles LXII a LXVI cidessus. Disposition Finale. Article LXV lll.—Duree de Iα Convention. Les regies tracees par la presente Convention resteront en vigueur jusqu'au jour ou de nouvelles regies y auront etc substituees en vertu dun Accord entre les Puissances Signataires. En foi de quoi, les Dengues soussignes ont dressd le present Protocole et y ont appos6 leurs signatures. Fait a Londres, en double expedition, le 27 Fevrier 1906.

Article LXIII. — Councils. (1.) Every municipality shall be administered by a Council consisting of not less than four and not more than eight members. (2.) The Council shall elect a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman from its members. (3.) Councillors shall Hold office for four years. Article LXIV. — Elections. (1.) Non - Natives of either sex and any nationality, who have completed their twentyfirst year and have resided for six months at least in the district, shall be entitled to vote, with the exception of those who have served a sentence of more than three months' imprisonment. (2.) Voters of either sex who have completed their twenty-fifth year shall be eligible for election. (3.) The first elections shall take place within three months of the establishment of a municipality. (4.) The elections shall take place under the supervision of two persons respectively appointed by the two Resident Commissioners. Article LXV. — Functions of the Councils. The Councils shall pass the annual Municipal Budget, vote the necessary local taxation, initiate and carry out municipal works, decide upon the establishment of schools and charitable institutions, and, in general,, take all measures necessary for the welfare of the local community. Article LXVI. — Temporary Provisions. The two existing municipal bodies in the island of Efate shall be recognised as municipalities. Members of these bodies may continue to hold office till the termination of the period for which they were elected. Article LXV 11.—Supplementary Regulations. The High Commissioners or their delegates shall prescribe jointly the regulations for enforcing the provisions of Articles LXII to LXVI. Final Provision. Article LXV 111 .—Duration of the Convention. The provisions laid down by the present Convention shall remain in force until new provisions are substituted in virtue of an agreement between the Signatory Powers. ; In witness whereof, the undersigned delegates s have drawn up and signed the present protocol. F Done at London, in duplicate, the 27th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1906.

(Signed) Eldon Gorst. Saint-Germain. ' Hugh Bertram Cox. E. Picanon. Approximate Cost of PrtoJwff.-Preraration.not given; printing (1,400 copies), M' 2 7s. By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o6.

Price 9d.)