“ If at any time the office of Premier is vacant, the High Commissioner shall, by notice published in the Cook Islands Gazette, dissolve the Legislative Assembly as soon as he is satisfied, acting in his discretion, that a reasonable period has elapsed since that office was last vacated and that there is no member of the Assembly who commands the confidence of a majority of the members. ”

“ The Legislative Assembly shall, immediately when it first meets after a general election and as soon as possible after any vacancy occurs in the office of Speaker otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of the Assembly, and before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business, elect a person (not being a Minister) to be Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. ”

“ Without limiting the provisions of any law prescribing any additional qualifications, a person shall be qualified to be an elector for the election of members of the Legislative Assembly or to be a candidate at any such election, if, and only if—
(a) He is a British subject; and (b) He has been ordinarily resident in the Cook Islands throughout the period of three months immediately preceding his application for enrolment as an elector or, as the case may be, his nomination as a candidate, and has at some period resided continuously in the Cook Islands for not less than twelve months. ”