WIDER POWERS DESIRED.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18518, 15 March 1930, Page 17 (Supplement)

WIDER POWERS DESIRED.

Federal Cabinet’s Proposals

alteration of constitution. (United Press Association —By Electrlo Tel egr aph—Cop y right.) (Received March 14, 8.30 p.m.) CANBERRA March 14. The Prime Minister outlined the Federal Government’s referendum proposals in the House of Representatives, when moving the second reading of the Constitution Alteration Bill. “One of the main objects of the Bill,” the Prime Minister said, “is to save the enormous cost of an appeal to the people every time a proposal to alter the Constitution is made. Mr Scullin declared that the Parliaments of Britain, South Africa, and New Zealand were clothed with the complete powers, which the Commonwealth wanted untrammelled by “State rights” and jealousies. He instanced the coal industry, in which the Commonwealth had no power of control, although 80 per cent, of the best coal was locked up in one State, namely: New South Wales. No other Parliament in the Empire, he said, was so handicapped by Constitutional limitations, with the result that matters which should be decided by the Commonwealth Parliament itself, became judicial questions for the High Court. The papers describe the change as fundamental, almost revolutionary. Mr Scullin’s proposes to take the right of veto from the people, and give Parliament authority to make any Constitutional changes it pleases. The paper points out that Mr Scullin says the result will make the Constitution more flexible, but are the electors who have shown themselves so ready to exercise their rights of veto, likely to be persuaded to surrender it once and for all?