THE REFERENDUM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2125, 6 July 1907, Page 1

THE REFERENDUM.

HOAV THE SYSTEM AVORKS IN SWITZERLAND.

Switzerland from a political point of view, is remarkable as having in operation, tlio Referendum, the Initiative, and the Elective Executive. Those three dovises it is claimed, have stood the test of time and experience, have abolished the ovils of tho Party system of tho Government, liavo rendered Ministerial drises impossible, and, in short, have operated entirely for tho good of the country. Cor-' tainly, the conditions for tlio adoption of these reforms were particularly favourable in Switzerland, where I lie. sovereignty of the people is niVich more than a theoretical doctrine, and it does not follow that they would be as successful elsewhere as they are alleged to be in Switzerland. The subject is an interesting one do Neyv Zealand, where proposals relating to tlio adoption of tlio three reforms have been made from time to time, and it is therefore fortunate that the visit to Christchurch of a prominent officer of the Swiss Army afforded air opportunity of procuring a statement of the working of the Referendum, Initiative, and the Elective Executive systems in Switzerland from one who could speak from personal observation. Lieutenant-Colonel Fennaud in the course of an interview with a'Christchurch “Press” representative on the subject, said that the people of Switzerland were really the sovereign body and had tho power of voting direct on any legislative proposal. The Initiative and tho Referendum were organised for tho purpose of giving the people those direct legislative rights, and t‘he system was worked as follows. If 30.000" citizens signed an address to the Federal Council, which was the highest executive body in the country, asking them to bring in any law, which had been adopted by the Swiss Parliament, before the nation, the Council had to submit that law to a referendum of the people, who decided whether it should be finally adopted or not. For instance some years ago objection was taken to a new military law which had been passed by Parliament. The right of tlio Referendum was demanded, and in duo course the law was submitted to the nation and rejected. Parliament then formulated another law, on tlio subject which also was rejected by tlio people on a second referendum being taken. That nrocess went on for three times altogether, each time tiro law approaching nearer ; to tho wishes of tho people, and a fourth proposal on the same subject was about to be made by the Parliament. Another check the Swiss people has on their Parliament, continued 1 Colonel Fennaud, was that of tho Initiative

which had been lately added 1 . Tho Federal Council, on a petition signed by 30,000 citizens being presented, caused tho proposal set out! in the petition to he brought beforo Parliament. Parliament elaborated the

proposals and incorporated them in the form of a law which was finally submitted to tlio people for them to accept or not, as they choose'. The Initiative and . Referendum systems applied not only to the Parliament of the country, but also to the local governing bodies of tlio Canton and parish. The Elective Executive system was also in operation in Switzerland, for, tho Federal Council of seven members, a body corresponding to a mininstry in a Parliamentary Government) system, was’ elected by tho two Houses of Parliament act-

ing together from among tliVir own members. It had been propelled that the members of the Federal Council should be elected directly by tlio people, and not indirectly by .the -represt-

atives of the people, but’the question had not become a burning oho, and did not so far warrant the calling into operation of the Initiative. The executive power in each separato Canton or Stato was elected directly by tho people, and it was really an cxtension of that system to the chief legislative body that was now being discussed.

In some parts of Switzerland there had been introduced into the elections what was known as the proportional system of voting, by which, in a mathematical way every party, big or small, could bo represented in Parliament. The system rendered the polling a little complicated, 1 but it had worked very well. It had been in operation in Geneva for the past twelve years, .and it was being gradually followed in the other States. “AYe know nothing about ministerial crises,” said Colonel Fermaiul, in conclusion. “Our Federal .Council could promulgate a law which might be disapoved of on a Referendum being taken, and they would never think of resigning because their proposals had been rejected, and our political system is such that no question hostile to tlio wishes of the great bulk of the people can bo ndopted by Parliament.