South Australia Act 1842

The South Australia Act 1842 is the short title of an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom with the long title:"An Act to provide for the better Government of South Australia"with the citation "5 & 6 Vict c. 61".

Passed on 30 July 1842, it repealed the South Australia Act 1834, as well as amendments made to that Act, and instituted a different form of Government over the province of South Australia.

The "Act" was introduced as a result of recommendations by a "British Parliamentary Enquiry" into the failure of the colonial administration which had brought the province of South Australia near bankruptcy in 1840.

The "Act" provided for a Governor and at least seven other officers to be appointed to form a Legislative Council for the governance of South Australia. The "Act" also made provision for a commission to initiate the establishment of democratic government, electoral districts, requirements for voting rights, and terms of office.

The "Act" also provided for the annual repayment of debts to those who had invested in the "South Australia Colonial Revenue Securities" at a rate of three pounds ten shillings per one hundred pounds of principal invested. In addition provision was made for interest to be paid on the principal owing. The "Act" also provided for funding of these payments out of the general funds of the British government as a repayable loan to the South Australian government, if payments could not be met.

The "Act" also cleared the South Australian government of an earlier one hundred and fifty-five thousand pound loan from the general funds of the British government.

References

*" [http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/resources/transcripts/sa6_doc_1842.pdf Transcript of the South Australia Act, 1842] " ( [http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?sdID=37 National Archives of Australia] )