REFERENDUM DEFEATS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 378, 9 March 1937, Page 5

REFERENDUM DEFEATS

DEFINITE DECISION

“PEOPLE ARE MASTERS”

London Newspaper Comment On Voting.

Press Association—Copyright. London, March 8. Commenting on the referendum defeats- in Australia., the. Times, in a leading article, states: — “There is no need to accept without important reservations Mr Lyons’s dictum that the voting reveals an amazing anti-Federal spirit. iThere are other causes for the decision, although. one amendment would doubtless have been accepted if it had not been among the smaller States, over the working of the Federal system. Neither amendment could be said to give the Government any power it Was not believed to possess.” t

"The referendum is a device which usually favours no change,” says the Daily Telegraph. “It gives the electors the- opportunity to remind the Federal Government that the peopl and not the Ministers are the mast rs and, as an adverse verdict does not entail the overthrow of the Governmen!-,, a negative vote can be cast With a light heart.” A Canberra message states that the United Australia Party members!' will insist on the people’s verdict being accepted. They will refuse to consider any alternative proposal for the imposition of excise in marketing. “The defeat of the aviation proposal at the referendum creates an amazing position,” declared the. Controller of Civil Aviation, Captain E. C. Johnson. “Anybody .can fly without a license in, an una.iTWorthy machine provided he does not fly in-ter-state for commercial ■ purposes. The Commonwealth’s- powers, as hitherto, are limited to the-control of aviation in the territories and in relation to trade and commerce between States and with other nations. The Commonwealth cannot deal, except in a very limited Way, with civil flying within a single State.” The latest referenda figures, revealing a further swing against the marketing proposals, are reported to be causing embarrassment to Federal political circles. In every Country Party electorate the “no” majority on the marketing proposal was increased. It is reported from several States that a large number of electors a . liberately made their votes informal