REFERENDUM SYSTEM.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1917, Page 3

REFERENDUM SYSTEM.

I VIEWS OF MR. VEITCH, M.P. 3 AUCKLAND, June 15. In reference to the referendum syss tern, Mr. Veitch, M.P., in his. speech given under the auspices of the Auck_ land Industrial Association, said: "I 3 ' do not say that all matters should be 1 referred to'the 'people.' Had I been in Australia I' would not have voted for compulsory military service, the que??- " J tion there being referred to the people ('Hear, hear.) Privileges of citizenship involve great responsibilities, and we are not going to allow a section of the community to use those privilege-? for the purpose of evading the duties of citizenship.'' (Loud applause.). I A questioner asked how the speaker * reconciled bin attitude with the prin- i ciple referred to by him of government ' of the people, by the people and for L the people. * . 1 Mr. Veitch replied: "A reference to I tin- people as to whether they should defend their country or allow the Kai- \ ser to come here and take it would not lie government, for the people; it would rather be government against. • the people. (Hear, hear.) if your ! house was in flames, you would not take a vote of the members of your family as to whether you should put. out the tire; you would take a hose and put it out right away. (Applause. 1 ) Tf the privileges of the democracy are .to be m'Cfl as a. means- of evading its responsibilities*, then democracy has failed." (Applause.)