REFERENDUM

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 62, 15 March 1933, Page 7

REFERENDUM

N.S.W. EBEPAEING

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

In. a few. weeks now politicians in New South Wales will commence what promises to be one of the most strenuous campaigns in the history, of the State. On. May 13 the Government's proposals for the reform of the Legislative Council will be" submitted to the people in the form of a referendum, and Labour, under the direction of Mr. J. T. Lang, will bitterly, opposo them. The GoVernment party is so keen to have its' plans put into operation that its members will devote practically the whole of their time in appealing to the people for endorsement. Labour is greatly heartened by the knowledge that all ref erendums in Australia have failed" to satisfy the ruling authority, and they think that this referendum will go the same way. Both aides have mapped out an extensive campaign, and the poor . elector may anticipate a flood- of words and the intrusion of many side issues. Labour will be most anxious to divert attention from the issues at stake, more particularly because it has abused the Council so much in the past. Self-government in Australia had its genesis in the Legislative Council of New South Wales. The first Council was an advisory body, constituted by Bpyal Warrant dated December 1,1823. Five members we're elected to. advise the Governor, and their first meeting was held on August 25, 1824. In 1842 the elective principle was partly adopted; the personnel of the Council was increased to. 36 members, of whom 24 were elected. .The bi-cameral system | was introduced in New South Wales in May, 1856, the first Legislature comprising an Assembly of 54 members, chosen by the electors, and a Council of "not less than 21 members," nominated by the Governor, on the a.dvice of,the Executive. Council. "IThe.- first Legislative' Council.'was appointed for five years. Since then, however, appointments have been for life. In IQOI the comparative strength of the two Chambers was;— "Council 67, Assembly 125. The popular Chamber has since shrunk to 90 and the nominee Chamber has increased to 122, largely due to the "swampings" of repent years. Of the latter number, 70 were nominated by the Labour Governments and- 52 by other Governments, The Government now proposes to abolish the nominee system and to replace it with a system of indirect election of members for definite terms. If a "yes" vote is recorded at the referendum the new Upper House will consist of 60 members, instead of the pre-. sent membership of 122. There will be mo payment to members. There are no restrictions as to persons eligible for election. No qualification of age or property, are required. Any person— male or female—competent to exercise a vote as an elector will be eligible for the.Council ballot. The nomination

paper, however, must be signed by two members of Parliament. The Government has incorporated in the v Bill a policy 61 election by the Upper and Lower.Houses themselves sitting-as one electoral, body, though in. distinct Chambers. The procedure "will be that at each three-yearly periods, when ,15 members retire from the Upper House, the two houses wity elect 15 successors to hold office-for 12 years. For the constitution of the first reformed Upper House an election by the proportional representation system is provided. The election will be held in four distinct series. Those first elected will be the last to retire, holding office for 12 years. Those next' elected'will hold office for nine years. f Those elected thirdly will hold,, office, for six yijafs; and ' those ■last" elected will retire""' a"f tsi~^ ar ~ -pSfttrar" -Df™ tirreo. years. Clause 5 of the'"Bill makes it clear that in the case of an appropriation Bill, which the Legislative Council fails to pass, the Legislative Assembly may submit the Bill to the Governor for assent after the expiration of one month. In the case of any,other Bills, which have been 'passed by the ( Assembly,, and with -which the Council disagrees, the Bill cannot be forced through, without a referendum, of .the people. Provision, is, made rcquiring.tlie Bill to be passed>by/the .Legislative Assembly on two occasions, with an,interval of three months intervening, and if, after a free conference between managers representing both Houses, the disagreement still exists, for a joint session, at which no vote is: taken; If after a joint session the disagreement V'ill exists, the Legislative Council may submit the Bill to a referendum. Tliese provisions will apply even to the Bills dealing with the Council's own constitution. It is claimed that these provi; sions will vest complete control in the people, and that it will not be possible* for the Legislative Council to oppose the-popular sentiment of the electorates if the electors are so determined. -