CO129-535-4 N.I. Brewer- petition for pardon 28-5-1931 - 24-10-1931 — Page 29

Seats declared void in certain

cases.

Resignation of Members.

Council may transact business not-

withstanding vacancies.

Patent shall vacate his seat at the end of six years from the date of the Instrument by which or in pursuance of which he is appointed, unless it is otherwise provided by that Instrument.

Provided that if any such Member is provision- ally appointed to fill a vacant seat in the Council and his provisional appointment is immediately followed by his definitive appointment, the afore- said period of six years shall be reckoned from the date of the Instrument provisionally appoint- ing him.

Every such Unofficial Member shall be eligible to be re-appointed by the Governor by an Instru- ment under the Public Seal of the Colony for a further period not exceeding six years, subject to Our approval conveyed through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State.

XVII. If any Unofficial Member of the Legis- lative Council shall become bankrupt or insolvent, or shall be convicted of any criminal offence, or shall absent himself from the Colony for more than three months without leave from the Gover- nor, the Governor may declare in writing that the seat of such Member at the Council is vacant, and immediately on the publication of such declaration he shall cease to be a Member

of the Council.

XVIII. Any Unofficial Member may resign his seat at the Council by writing under his hand, but no such resignation shall take effect until it be accepted in writing by the Governor, or by Us through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State.

XIX. The Legislative Council shall not be disqualified from the transaction of business on

account of any vacancies among the Members thereof; but the said Council shall not be com- petent to act in any case unless (including the

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