A.—s

50

The Bill.

this Constitution, and of the laws of the Commonwealth. 62. There shall be a Federal Executive Council to advise the Govern or-General in the government of the Commonwealth, and the members of the Council shall be chosen and summoned by the Governor-General, and sworn as Executive Councillors, and shall hold office during his pleasure. 63. The provisions of this Constitution referring to the Governor-General in Council shall be construed as referring to the Governor-General acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. 64. The Governor-General may appoint officers to administer such Departments of State of the Commonwealth as the Governor-General in Council may establish. Such, officers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor-General. They shall be members of the Federal Executive Council, and shall be the Queen's Ministers of State for the Commonwealth. After the first general election do Minister of State shall hold office for a longer period than three months, unless he is or becomes a senator or a member of the House of Representatives. 65. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, the Ministers of State shall not exceed seven in number, and shall hold such offices as the Parliament prescribes, or, in the absence of provision, as the Governor-General directs. 66. There shall be payable to the Queen, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Commonwealth, for the salaries of the Ministers of State, an annual sum which, until the Parliament otherwise provides, shall not exceed twelve thousand pounds a year. 67. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, the appointment and removal of all other officers of the Executive Government of the Commonwealth shall be vested in the Governor-General in Council, unless the appointment is delegated by the Governor- General in Council or by a law of the Commonwealth to some other authority. 68. The command in chief of the naval and military forces of the Commonwealth is vested in the Governor-General as the Queen's representative. 69. On a date or dates to be proclaimed by the Governor-General after the establishment of the Commonwealth, the following departments of the public service in each State shall become transferred to the Commonwealth :— Posts, telegraphs, and telephones. Naval and military defence. Lighthouses, lightships, beacons, and buoys. Quarantine. But the departments of customs and of excise in each State shall become transferred to the Commonwealth on its establishment. 70. In respect of matters which, under this Constitution, pass to the Executive Government of the Commonwealth, all powers and functions which at the establishment of the Commonwealth are vested in the Governor of a colony, or in the Government of a colony with the advice of his Executive Council, or in any authority of a colony, shall vest in the Governor-General, or in the Governor-General in Council, or in the authority exercising similar powers under the Commonwealth, as the case requires.

Explanation.

General as her representative. He will be advised by a Federal Executive Council, whose members will hold office during his pleasure. The executive power is to extend only to carrying out the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth, and will not otherwise interfere with the Executive Government of the States. "The Governor-General in Council" means the Governor-General with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. 64, 65, 66, Ministers of State.—The Ministers of State for the Commonwealth are to be appointed by the Governor-General, and are to be members of the Federal Executive Council. They must not hold office for more than three months without a seat in one of the Houses of the Parliament. Until the Parliament otherwise provides they are not to be more than seven in number, and their aggregate salaries must not exceed £12,000 a year. [These provisions are intended to ensure the adoption of the system known as " responsible government."] 67. Civil Servants. —The appointment and removal of civil servants is vested at first in the Governor-General in Council, but any part of this power may be given by him or by the Parliament to some other authority. 68. Commander-in-chief of Forces. —The Governor - General is to be the Commander-in-chief of the naval and military forces. 69. Transfer of Departments. —The Departments of customs and excise are to become transferred to the Commonwealth immediately ; and the following departments are also to be taken over as soon as convenient : —Posts, telegraphs and telephones ; naval and military defence; lighthouses, lightships, beacons and buoys ; quarantine. 70. Transfer of Powers. —ln respect of matters which pass to the Executive Government of the Commonwealth, all powers which now belong to any authority in a colony are to belong to the authority exercising similar powers in the Commonwealth.