OLDEST ELECTED PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24610, 5 July 1945, Page 6

OLDEST ELECTED PARLIAMENT

MANX HOUSE OF KEYS KING TO PRESIDE OVER TYNWALD To-doy His Majesty the King will preside in person at the Tynwald Day ceremony in the Isle of Man, which claims to have the oldest Parliament in the world. On the Tynwald Day— July s—the, terms of acts passed by the Manx Parliament are read out in the open from the Tynwald Hill in English and Manx. The ceremony this year will be the first of its kind to be Presided over by the reigning monarch. The Manx Parliamentary system is a bi-cameral one; the lower house, composed of 24 elected members, is known as the House of Keys, and the Upper House consists of the Governor and Council. Members of the House of Keys are commoners elected on a property qualification to represent the six sheadings, or divisions, and the four municipalities of the island. Both men and women vote, and the members sit for five years. How long it is since women were granted the franchise is not known, but it was certainly hundreds of years before similar privileges were extended to the women of Great Britain. However, the property qualification bars about two-fifths of the population from voting. Of the population of 49,500 there are about 30,000 electors. The Governor of the island is nominated by the King. Members of the Council, who, together with the Governor, comprise the Upper House of the Manx Parliament, are the Bishop of Sodor and Man, the two Deemsters, or Judges, the AttorneyGeneral, two members appointed by the Governor, and four appointed by the House of Keys. Sitting together, the two Houses fcrm the Tynwald, or Parliament, which is presided over by the Governor as the King’s representative. All bills have to pass both Houses: they are then signed by all the members and sent for the Royal Assent. After receiving the Royal Assent the hill must be promulgated within a year. After this, on the Tynwald Day, the acts are read in an open-air ceremony There are two parties in the House of Keys, the Labour Party and the Progressive Party For many years members of the House of Keys were paid £SO a year, but this has .in recent years been increased to £IOO. The Speaker is unpaid. The known history of the Island of Man goes back to the ninth century, when it was settled by Norsemen. The island prospered until in 870 Harold of Norway conquered it Three hundred years later Alexander 111 of Scotland defeated Haco of Norway at the Battle of Largs, and the island became Scottish territory. When Henry IV succeeded to the throne of England he seized the Island of Man and in 1406 bestowed it on the Stanley family. The Stanleys held it for 400 years,, until, in 1827, the Crown bought it for £417,144. Since then the island has paid £IO,OOO a year to the Imperial Government, has redeemed £750,000 of War Stock as its contribution to the cost of the Great War, and has made * contributions towards national rearmament. Foreign affairs, defence, post and telegraph services, and the collection of customs are administered by the British Government. The Tynwald controls all other legislative functions, including the right of raising revenue by income tax and customs duties. Acts of the British Parliament are not applicable do the Isle of Man unless specific reference is made to it. Income tax is much less than in Britain. The main source of revenue is customs collections, and the main industry of the island catering for the extensive tourist trade. Only about half of the island’s area of 145.325 acres is under cultivation. Sheep are the main livestock, and some minerals are mined, but there are no big industries.