THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 995, 9 December 1910, Page 5

THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION.

_£ _« — APPEAL BY MR. DEAKIN. REJECTION OF AMENDMENTS URGED. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. Sydney, December 8. The ex-Federal Premier (Mr. A. Deakin) has issued an appeal to the men and women of Australia 'relative to the. referendum to bo taken in April next on the subject of altering the Constitution. Mr. Deakin declares that the people's rights and liberties, labour and property, aro at stake. Tho present Constitution was admirably adapted to preserve necessary co-operation, and .contained .ample provision for the readjustments rendered necossary by national growth and developments. The Constitution should proceed steadily, circumspectly,' in a natural, healthy manner. . "If tho amendments are carried," Mr. Deakin proceeds, "business of all kinds can bo crushed and starved by legislation; without compensation to either men or masters. They would give the Federal Government powers to acquire businesses, irrespective of any need or any gain to employers or to public from • the transaction. This is Socialism, naked, and unashamed. "The amendments would authorise the caucus to precipitate a political, social, and industrial revolution affecting the whole of the Commonwealth and its continent." Mr. Deakin strongly urges every elector to keep on preaching, and to vote "No" to the amendments. " UNIFICATION. (Rec. December 9, 1.5 a.m.) Sydney, December 8. Mr. Cook, ex-Minister of Defence for tho Commonwealth, addressing a meeting at North Sydney, said that when the referendum proposals becamo law unification would have aTrjved. The proposals were intended to get rid of the High Court which had'in most eases upheld State appeals against the Commonwealth. The referendum is to be taken in April next. The proposed amendments give the Commonwealth power to pass legislation dealing with trusts, combines, monopolies, and industrial matters. • ■ ■ ■ ; Speaking on the second reading of the Bill, tho Attorney-General, Mr: W. M. HugheSi said •—"Tho Commonwealth wanted the same power with relation to trade and commerce as Canada had. It was proposed to strike out tho limitations in the Constitution, and so givo th* Commonwealth that control. There would then be-no necessity to ask the courts if the Federal authority had power insido their sphere. Tho States v?ould still have their . great quasi-sovereign powers. . It was essential that tho National Government should havo control of the rushing torrent of commerce. To say that the. National Government was not to havo this control was to give it- but tho crumbs that fell from tho rich man's ! table. In the true interest of Federation it was necessary that, in an unambiguous fashion, tho Federal Government should control trad© and commerce."