Partially-Elected
pp. 14-15 · Read in the full issue
Legislative Council For Solomons
The people of the Britis Solomon Islands Protectorai will elect part of their Legislate Council under anew constitutic for the Protectorate approved b the Queen at a meeting of tb Privy Council in London on Sej tember 25.
THE new constitution replaces th of 1960 which set up the fir Legislative and Executive Counci in the Protectorate, and puts in effect the recommendations of special select committee of tl Legislative Council published la October.
Under that constitution, there we 11 official and 10 unofficial membe of the Legislative Council—all u official members being nominated 1 the High Commissioner.
There will still be 11 offici members, but the new constitutic provides for the election of eight < the 10 unofficial members—the oth two being nominated by the Hij Commissioner as before.
Direct Ballot One elected member will be electi by a direct ballot to represe Honiara. The other seven will ea< be elected by an electoral college.
There will be one electoral colle; for the Eastern District, one for tl Western District, three for tl Malaita District, and two for tl Central District, excluding Honiar Each college will elect one membe The members of the elector colleges will be chosen by the mer bers of all the local councils in the areas.
The new set-up will be broug into operation in several stages, whi< the Government hopes will be cor plete before mid-1965.
The first stage will be the registr tion of electors in Honiara. Tt is expected to take place December.
Local councils will then meet choose members of the elector colleges and the present Legislati Council will be dissolved.
The elections themselves w follow, and, finally, the first meetii of the new Legislative Council w be held.
The new constitution also provid for anew Executive Council to 1 appointed after the elections.
In a statement on the new set-u
be BSIP’s Chief Secretary, Mr. M. ). I. Gass, said: “The changes a further stage in the con ditional development of the fotectorate towards its longer-term im of a wholly-elected Legislature”.
Micronesia To
Go To Polls
HHE people of the United States L Trust Territory of the Pacific lands (Micronesia) will go to the >lls for the first time in mid-January elect representatives to a new two )use body to be known as the Con ess of Micronesia.
The Congress will give Micro ;sians a large share in the wernment of their 2,100 islands, hich are scattered over three illion square miles of the Pacific, be islands have a total area of ily 700 square miles, and their tal population is 88,200.
The Congress’ two houses will be town as the House of Delegates, ade up of two representatives from ch of the six administrative stricts, and the General Assembly th representatives apportioned on a ipulation basis. The first General isembly of the Territory will have ur members each from the arshall Islands and Ponape Dis cts, three members each from the ariana Islands District and Palau strict, five members from Truk strict, and two members from Yap strict.
The new Congress will have power levy taxes and to refer legislative ms twice vetoed by the US High immissioner to the Secretary of ; Interior for further action. It 1 also participate in the prepara n of the annual budget of the Jst Territory before it is submitted the United States Congress. A I-time legislative counsel will be de available to assist the Con ss, which will meet annually for days at the provisional capital in pan.
Jy special provision, during the t four formative years of the ngress, membership will be fully ;n to persons employed in the scutive branch of the Trust Ter >ry Government.