REFERENDUM IN N.S.W.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20860, 20 May 1933, Page 11

REFERENDUM IN N.S.W.

ATTEMPT TO INVALIDATE RESULT. COURT HEARING BEG UN. (united ritEss association—6r Enccrajc TELEGKAPH— COPYRIGHT.) . (Received May 19, 8.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 19. The application to-day came before the Chief Justice in Equity, Mr Justice Harvey, for an interim injunction restraining the State Electoral Commissioner, Judge Edwards, from issuing a certificate concerning the result of the voting in the recent referendum on the reform of the Upper House. Plaintiffs are Mr A. B. Piddington, K.C.; Mr J. M. Concannon, M.L.C.; Mr A. C. Willis, M.L.C.; and two others whose names are not yet disclosed. The Premier, Mr B. S. B. Stevens, the President of the Legislative Council, Sir John Peden, K.C., the Electoral Commissioner, Judge B. S. I Edwards, and the whole Cabinet are | joined as respondents. Mr E. J. Loxton, K.C., for the applicants, in the course of his preliminary argument, claimed that important constitutional issues were involved, similar to those argued on the former occasion when the fate of the Upper House was in the balance, before the Privy Council. Mr Justice Harvey admitted that possibly some such issues would arise. He would therefore invite two other Judges of the Supreme Court to join him on the Bench. In the meantime he would grant an interim injunction until Thursday of next week. Mr Loxton intimated that his main ground for objection was that the Reform Bill had not been properly submitted to the electors, and the Privy Council had laid it down that every elector must have full knowledge of the contents of such a bill before he could register his vote validly.