Validity of Referendum Challenged

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 May 1933, Page 7

Validity of Referendum Challenged

NEW SOUTH WALES UPPER HOUSE REFORM Received Friday, 8.5 p.m. SYDNEY, May 19. An application came before the Chief Judge in Equity (Mr Justice Harvey) for an interim injunction restraining the State Electoral Commissioner (Judge Edwards) issuing a certificate concerning the result of the voting in the recent referendum. Mr Loxton, K.C., for the applicants,' in the course of the preliminary argument, claimed that important Constitutional issues were involved, similar to those argued on a! former occasion, when the fate of the Upper House was in the balance before the Privy Council. Judge Harvey admitted that possibly some such issues would arise. He would therefore invite two other judges of the Supreme Court to join him on the Bench. In the meantime he would grant an interim injunction until Thursday of next week.

Mr Loxton intimated that, his main ground- for objection was that the Reform Bill had not been properly submitted to the electors, and the Privj Council had laid down that every elector must have full knowledge of the contents of a referendum Bill before he or she could register his or her vote validly.