FEDERAL SENATE

Southland Times, Issue 21096, 30 May 1930, Page 7

FEDERAL SENATE

REFERENDUM BILLS REJECTED. (United Press Assn.— By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.10 p.m. Canberra, May 29. The Senate has thrown out the Government’s three Referendum Bills. The Attorney-General, Mr Brennan, introduced another Bill in the House of Representatives to-day with the object of repealing the penal clauses of the Commonwealth Arbitration Bill. The three Referendum Bills provide that the people should be asked to vote upon amendments of the Constitution to give the Federal Parliament power itself to make future amendments without reference to the people, and to' give the Commonwealth the complete industrial and trade and commerce powers at present vested in the States. Although the Senate has thrown out the three Bills, it has no power to prevent the other House submitting the proposed constitutional amendments to the people. There is a section in the Constitution which provides that if either House twice rejects a constitutional amendment Bill twice passed by the other House, the question may be submitted to the people by referendum, the dissenting Chamber notwithstanding. The Government proposes to follow the constitutional procedure necessary to enable it to hold the referendum without the consent of the Senate, but the procedure can be so delayed by the Nationalist senators that it is unlikely the vote can be taken before the beginning of next year.