THE COMMONWEALTH REFERENDUM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1072, 10 March 1911, Page 4

THE COMMONWEALTH REFERENDUM.

The campaign on the referendum proposals of the Commonwealth Government is new well under way, and promises to develop into a bitter fight. Briefly put, the position is that if the proposals are carried the greater part of the powers at present hold by the State Governments will pass over to the Federal Parliament. Under the Federal Constitution the powers of the Federal Parliament were, broadly speaking, restricted to matters affecting the whole of Australia. The Labour party now in power wants to change this; it wants to be able to deal with matters which may concern only one State. One of the objections raised to the referendum proposals is the form in which they are to be submitted to the electors. There are in all five proposals, but four of these arc grouped together, and tin electors must vote "yes" or "no" for all four—they are not permitted to vole on them separately. The Sydney Daily Telegraph explains the issues very clearly in the following summary: — A. AS IT IS XOW. The. Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of tho Commonwealth, with respect to1. Trade and commerce with other countries and among the States. 2. Foreign corporations, and trading or financial corporations formed within the limits of the Commonwealth. 3. Conciliation mid arbitration for tho prevention and settlement of -industrial disputes extending beyond tho limits of any one State. The Constitution as at present gives tho Federal Parliament the abovementioned powers. If the referendum proposals are carried the alterations will be as follow: — B. AS IT WILL BE. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth, with respect to 1 Trado and commerce. 2. Corporations, including— The erealion, dissolution, regulation, and control of corporations; Corporations firmed under the law of :•. State—except any corporation iormed soln!v for religious, charitable, scientific, or artislic purposes, and not for the acquisition of gain by the corporation or its members— including their dissolution, regulation, and control,• and Foreign rjrporationr including their i regulation and control) ]

.'). Labour mid employment, including— The wage.- iiiu! conditions of labour iind employment in any trade, industry, or calling; and The in-cvcuticii ami settlement of indti.>lrii>l disputes including disputes in relation to employmeiit on or about railways, '.ho property of any Stale. ■1. Combinations and monopolies in relation to the, production, manufacture, or supply of goods or service.-. a. When each House ot the Parliament, in the sunn session, has by resolution declared that the industry or business of 1 reducing. ina»im>e,tin-ii:g. or supplying any specified goods, or of supplying any specified services, is (lie subject of a moiiopoly, the Parliament shall have power to make laws for carrying on the industry or l,usine-s In- or under Hie control of the Commonwealth, and acquiring for that purpose, on just tonus any property used in connection with the industry or busi-

Tlie proposals which arc joined as otic issue are those numbered 1 to 4. Electors will have to vote "yes" or "no" on these as though they were one proposal. No. 5 is to bo voted on separately. A careful perusal of the referendum proposals will show how very great is the extension of the powers of the Federal Parliament sought by the Labour party. It is significant that the charges proposed are directed almost entirely to strengthening the hands of the Federal Government in matters which are generally regarded _as immediately affecting the interests of Labour.