THE REFERENDUM.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 101, 26 October 1904, Page 2

THE REFERENDUM.

THE BILL AGAIN BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE PREMIER'S PROTESTS. The Referendum Bill was further considered in Committee by the House last night. The Premier said that in view of the fact that the Bill had passed the House almost unanimously last year the Government had come to the conclusion that not much trouble would be experienced in getting it through this session. He was surprised at the time the Bill had already taken up, and he urged members to come to ■some definite conclusion v.ith regard to it. The House ought to proceed with the Bill, otherwise the world would be given an opportunity of saying that the House was not serious in passing it on two previous occasions, and had relied on the Legislative Council to throw it out. * Mr. W. Fraser moved to amend clause 3 (which had previously been mutilated) by 1 providing that on the second rejection of a Bill managers for a conference should be selected "by ballot" instead of being "appointed." The Premier, in resisting the proposal, which, he said, would destroy the Bill, sais he was going to fight to the last for the Bill. If members thought that by a sidewind they were ■g^g t0 g^ out of their responsibilities and break election pledges they were mistaken. He did not believe in gentlemen attending a Government caucus — (Cries of "Oh, oh," and laughter). He was not one of those who treated lightly those who deceived. (Laughter.) He would not be pub in, a false position, either. , (Renewed laughter.) Mr. W. Fraser's amendment was carried by 38 to 28, and by 48 votes to 31 the Committee decided that each branch of the Legislature should be represented at a conierence by seven members. The subclau&e as amended wa,s retained by 37 to 34, and the whole clause (which, on a previous occasion, as stated, had been considerably mutilated) was eventually retained by 36 to 29. At clause 4, providing what may be submitted to a referendum, an amendment was made providing that a Bill shall be submitted to a referendum after the report of the conference (mentioned in the preceding clause) has been agreed to by both Houses. Mr. Taylor (on behalf of Mr. Ell) moved an amendment to provide that a Bill or proposal shall be submitted to a referendum if 20,000 electors petition to that effect. / Shortly after 1 a.m. tho Leader of tho Oposition- moved to report progress, tut he was defeated by 37 to 27, and Mr. Taylor's amendment was lost by 35 to 26. Clause 4 was added to the Bill by 42 to 17, and on the motion of the Premier progress was then (1.50 a.m.) reported.