THE REFERENDUM.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXX, Issue 193, 18 August 1894, Page 2

THE REFERENDUM.

Mr O'Regan, the eloquent young member for Inangahua, has two " bees m his bonnet" : one is the Single Tax, for which he displays a devotion which is as enthusiastic as that of Mr Samuel Vaile for the Zone railway system ; and the other is the Swiss Referendum. The chances of success of the Single Tax are not particularly brilliant, although it must be admitted that the adherents of the Georgian theory of taxation of land values are yearly increasing m number m New Zealand and m the Australian colonies; but the Referendum possesses a goodly band of ardent advocates m the ranks of the present Parliament, and although the Bill introduced by Mr O'Regan to give effect to the principle stands but little show of becoming law, the second reading of the measure ought to result m a very interesting, and not uninstructive discussion. A few details of the Bill will be, we think, of interest to our readers. It provides that whenever both the Houses shall have passed a resolution m favor of referring any measure to the popular vote, a poll shall be taken ; but a measure can also be so referred by the Lower House if it has been twice rejected by the Upper House. On receipt of the certificate of the passing of any resolution from either or both Speakers, the Colonial Secretary shall publish the same m the Gazette, and notification of the poll shall be given by advertisement and by notice at the school buildings and post offices of the colony. The poll must be taken on a day fixed, not earlier than one month, and not later than six months from the date of the passing of the resolution. The poll shall be taken at every place m the colony, whereat votes are taken at the general elections, and it may be taken on the same day as a general or licensing election. If the House so desires the poll may be taken at the post offices of the colony, m which case the postmasters shall fulfil the duties of returning officers, and the poll shall remain open one week, and, mutatis mutandis, all the provisions regulating the conduct of the local option poll shall apply. Mr O'Regan claims, we understand, that under the referendum, electors would be enabled to become legislators, and that were the principle adopted the people would rule m reality, for under the above provisions the people would, he maintains, give a direct vote on all questions, instead of as at present, being misled at election times by side issues and biassed by personal considerations which unduly and harmfully affect their verdict.