Alteration of number of members.
27. Subject to this Constitution, the Parliament may make laws for increasing or diminishing116 the number of the members of the House of Representatives.
CANADA.—The number of members of the House of Commons may be from time to time increased by the Parliament of Canada, provided the proportionate representation of the Provinces prescribed by this Act is not thereby disturbed.—B.N.A. Act, 1867, sec. 52.HISTORICAL NOTE.—Clause 30, chap. I. of the Commonwealth Bill of 1891 was as follows:—
“The number of members of the House of Representatives may be from time to time increased or diminished by the Parliament of the Commonwealth, but so that the proportionate representation of the several States, according to the numbers of their people, and the minimum number of members prescribed by this Constitution for any State, shall be preserved.”
At the Adelaide session, 1897, the clause was introduced and passed as follows:—
“Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the number of the members of the House of Representatives may be from time to time increased or diminished by the Parliament.”
At the Melbourne session, verbal amendments were made after the fourth report.