UPPER HOUSE ABOLITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21220, 29 December 1930, Page 7

UPPER HOUSE ABOLITION

SUPREME COURT’S RULING. COMMENT BY THE OBSERVER. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, December 27. (Received Dec. 28, at 8 p.m.) The Observer, referring to the New South Wales Upper House decision, says: “ The Supreme Court ruling seems to be sound, and points out that the New South Wales Parliament owes its- existence to an Act which was passed by the United Kingdom Parliament, and asks how New South Wales can amend it.” By a majority of four to one the State Full Court called a halt to the Legislative Council abolition plans of the Lang Government' by ruling that the injunction granted in the Equity Court shall become permanent and that the abolition Bills shall not be presented to the Governor for Royal assent until the question has been submitted to the people by a referendum. The only dissentient from this judgment was Mr Justice Long Innes, who held that the Legislature which framed the former Government’s Act making a referendum compulsory had attempted to restrict the powers of repeal conferred upon it, and that the granting of an injunction mightf provoke an undesirable conflict between Parliament and the courts. The Government is now preparing to carry its appeal against the decision to the High Court of Australia. ■