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Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11949, 20 May 1933, Page 5

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CONFIRMATION OF N.S-W. ' ’ REFERENDUM. -A :

REFORM OF UPPER HOUSE

PROPOSAL. ' VALIDITY OF VOTE ' CHALLENGED. . • JUDGE INVITES COLLEAGUES' " ’ TO ASSIST IN CASE. -■ % (U.P.A. by Elec.- Tel Copyright)' (Rec. May 19, 8.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 19'. An application • came before the Chief Judge in tho Equity C*durt Mr. Justice Harvey, for an interim injiinc cion restraining the State electoral commissioner, Judge Edwards, - from issuing a certificate a s to result of the voting in the recent referendum on the Upper House Reform Bill. The plaintiffs are Messrs, A. B. Piddington, K.C., J. Concannan. AI.L.CL, A. C. Willis, ALL C, and two others whose names are not yet disclosed. Tho Premier, Air. B. S. Stevens, the President of the Legislative Council, Sir J. B. Pnden, the electoral commissioner. Judge Edwards and tie whole of the Cabinet, will be joined as respondents. The plaintiffs seek an injunction to restrain the Cabinet from laying the Upper House Reform Bill before the State Governor for the purpose of obtaining Royal assent. Air. Loxton, K.C., for the applicants, in the course of his preliminary argument claimed that important constitutional issues were involved, similar to those argued on a former occasion when the fate of the Upper House wa s in the balance bofore the Privy Council.

Mr. Justice Harvey admitted that possibly some such issues would arise. He would therefore invite two other Judgc-s of the Supreme Court to jcin him on the bonc-h. In the meantime, ho w-ould grant rn interim injunction until Thursday of nc-rt week.

Air. Loxton intimated that his

main ground for objection war. that the Reform Bill had not been properly submitted to the - electors, and the Privy Council had laid down that every elector must have full knowledge of the contents of a Referendum Bill before he could register his vote validly