DISTRICT NEWS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 July 1911, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

EVENTB IN SHANNON. (Chronicled by oar Resident Representative.) H-I.K LITERARY AND DERATING SOCIETY. At the Shannon Literary and Debating Society's weekly meeting, the subject was " The. Referendum should t'onn part of the machinery of the Government of every civil ised State." .Mr Kargher wa.s voted to th( chair. Mr Murdoch, who apologised for the absence of -Mr Munay, who was to have been Ihe leader in the- affirmative, said ho had only undertaken to bo his (Mr Murray's) substitute about an hour ago, and therefore bad not much time to prepare. He opened the debate it: favour of the Referendum, iniev alia, instancing its working in .-,v;tzerland, and lately in 4 ustr.i!,:< In the latter country it had shown that although the people were in favour of the Labour Government, they were not prepared to go the length of the Labour platfonn. M.r Ti "vnor had not come pivpu' ed to second; he spoke without preparation, and gave instances where political reforms were delayed for the want of a referendum.

Mr Eastwood made a- very powerful oration. He dwelt principally oil tho application of the principles of the referendum as being democratic and the only way of obtaining ti!w> true idea of the will of the people. Mr Hensman, as usual, in a well-thought-out speech, pointed out that from tho multiplicity of subjects dealt with at a general election it was not possible to obtain through the representatives whether tho people were in favour of any particular plank in any platform the only way was by referendum. Mr Exall followed, strongly emphasising tho necessity of a referendum to obtain the will of tihe demoracacy. Ho illustrated in many ways how tho referendum would act beneficially. For the negative, Mr Selby opened with a powerful speech. His collection of data and authorities were overwhelming. He criticised the referendum in Switzerland and Australia, neither of which he contended could he said to bo a success, and although the referendum had been in existence in Switzerland so long no other country had seen fit to copy it. Ho pointed out that in England that the only cry for the referendum was by tho Conservatives, and that all the democratic loaders and the Labour Party in that country was opposed to the referendum.

Mr Judd .seconded Mr Selby. He answered those of his opponents who had quoted the referendum on the licensing question >in this country by stating that Prohibition would have been etarried long ago if it had not been for tlio referendum. Mr "Ritchie followed. His speech dealt with the matter in a practical way. He .strongly criticised the system in Switzerland, and. went into details, pointing out tibiat it was not in force in all the Cantons and only optional in some. Mr Clayton had d'onned his cap aiul bells and succeeded by his buffonery in doing much damage to the cause the referendum advocated. Mr Gardiner followed. He is generally too intent on being strictly logical to be forcible; his case against the referendum was well ■reasoned. The leaders having replied, the question was put to the meeting, the voting being: 20 against the referendum and 13 for.