CHANNEL ISLANDS

91

CHANNEL ISLANDS.^

The Channel Islands are administered according to their own laws and customs. Jersey has a separate legal existence; it is administered by a Lieutenant-Governor appointed by the Crown, and a Bailiff" also appointed by the Crown. The Bailiff presides in the States, which consist of 12 Jurats elected by the ratepayers for life, 12 rectors of parishes, 12 constables or mayors of parishes, and 14 deputies; the constables and deputies being elected for 3 years The Lieutenant-Governor has a veto on legislation. He may address the States but not vote. The 2 Crown 'officers may speak and vote. The qualification for a vote is the possession of a minimum value of 801. real or 120/. personal property. The Royal Court consists of a tribunal of first instance and an appeal court. Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark are under one Lieutenant-Governor, but Guernsey and Alderney have government of their own, and Sark is a dependency of Guernsey and under its jurisdiction. The States for deliberation anu • '-I'^tion consist of a Bailiff", 12 Jurats, 10 rectors, 2 Crown officers, 15 delegates ot pc*. . ' es, and 9 deputies elected by the rate- payers of the whole island. The sheriff" and jurats are chosen by indirect election. On May 10, 1905, a law was passed for the Island of Guernsej'- requiring the approval of the Lieut. -Governor and of the Royal Court of the Island previously to the acquisition, or leasing, or occupation of immovable property by aliens or alien companies, registration and liability to local rates, kc, being also provided for. The Channel Islands are not bound by Acts of the Imperial Parliament unless specially named in them.

Lieittenant-Governor of Jc-rsei;. — Major-General Sir A. N. Rochfort, K. C. B. , C.M.G.

Lieutenant-Governor of Guernfi'.y, A:.c. — Major-General Sir E. 0. F. Hamilton, K.C.B.

Jersey, (1911): revenue, 94,469Z.; expenditure, 91,5817.; public debt, 318,600/. Guernsey, &c. (1911): revenue, 48,154Z.; expenditure, 46,394?.; public debt, 214,164/.

The total area, and the acreage under crops and grass and the numbers of live stock in 1912 were: —

—

Jersey

Guernsey, &c.

Total

acres

acres

acres

Total area 2 . . . ,

28,717

15,750

44,467

Ai'ea under —

Wheat

538

215

753

Oats

1,123

632

1,757

Other corn croi)s ....

215

101

406

Potatoes

8,542

628

9,170

Clover, sainfoin, and grasses under

rotation . . . . •

4,293

1,200

5,493

Total arable land ....

16,184

5,535

21,719

Total permanent grass

3,275

5,903

9,178

number

number

number

Horses

2,19G

1,530

3,726

Cattle

12,40 f

6,449

18,853

Sheep

160

352

512

Pigs

4,514

3,952

8,466

Agricultural holdings in 1911 above 1 acre in size numbered 1,960 in Jersey (average size, 10 acies), and 1,147 in Guernsey, &c. (average size, 10*1 acres). Of these, 592 holdings (total acreage, 6,038 acres) were OAvned or mainly owned by their or^cnpiers in Jersey, and 653 (total acreage, 6,058 acres) in Guernsey, &c.

1 Area and population, Ki<' )>. 12.

- The area of Jersey includcb water, that (f Guprnsey, &c., excludes water.