AUSTRALIA TO-DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23228, 23 December 1938, Page 18

AUSTRALIA TO-DAY

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM PROBLEM BEING DISCUSSED [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] *' SYDNEY, Dec. 10 New menaces to national security have brought Constitutional reform »into the forefront 'again. The Australian Federation consists of six Sovereign States which transferred to the Commonwealth certain powers over national affairs, including defence, customs, post offices, quarantine, .interState industries and control of territories. Legal clashes between Federal and State authority have been > frequent. . The failure of the recent Premiers Conference, called to deal with defence has turned the minds of many Federal members to tho old problem of amending the Constitution to give the Commonwealth powers to deal with all national questions. , There is a feeling on both sides or the Federal Parliament that tho lead must be taken by Parliament as a whole, although the original move must be initiated by the_ Government, as suggested by the Prime Minister, Mr, J. A. Lyons, in his election policy speech in 1931. There are two methods of amending the Constitution. The first, which is simpler and quicker, is that of reference" by the .States to the Commonwealth of specified powers and functions. This method has proved unworkable hitherto, because of the refusal of the States to surrender powers. The second method is by referendum, an amendment so approved requiring the assent of the majority of the voters in a majority of the States.