ALTERING THE CONSTITUTION

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1937, Page 6

ALTERING THE CONSTITUTION

Tnterewt w increasing in the Australian referendum campaign which ends with a national ballot on March fi. Amendment of AiiftniHit's Federal Constitution may be made only after the proposed change is approved by a majority of the people and by majorities of the people in a majority of the six States. The I'rivy Council held, on appeal from the Commonwealth High Court, that an Australiawide marketing organisation controlling the production of dried fruits was contrary to section 92 of the Constitution, which declares that there shall he absolute freedom of interState trade. A similar marketing organisation o|>erates in respect to butter, and the system will probably be extended. Its effect is to ti\ home consumption prices high enough to jfive compensation for |K>ssil)le losses on export. The Const it nf ional amendment, proposed by the Government provide® that section !>'2 shall not apply to marketing schemes authorised by Commonwealth le jisliition. Generally ►speaking, the Country party favours the proposal. 1 >111 the other parties, as well as the State Governments. are divided. The Opposition is unwilling to centralise more power in the Federal capital. Canberra, and it also expresses a fear that interference with interState trade for the sake of national marketing might develop into inter-State harriers against activities incidental to marketing, such as transport. Every elector in Australia has received l>v post a pamphlet containing statements <if the Government case as well as the case for opposition.