A FEDERAL REFERENDUM.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1919, Page 12

A FEDERAL REFERENDUM.

FOR POWERS TO„ DEAL WITH t:;:;sts. '-i Sydney, September 27. An announcement of extreme significance in view of the present Federal political position, was made briefly in the Federal House of Representatives by tlie Prime Minister, who gave notice to move'for leave to bring in a Bill for an Act to alter section 51 of the constitution; and for leave to briim in a Bill to amend the constitution. This brief announcement is regarded in political circles, states the Age, as being almost conclusive proof of the fact that there will be an election for both senators and members of the Hoiise of Representatives in December next. Little doubt is entertained by members that the Bills which the Prime Minister proposes to introduce for the purpose of altering section 51 of the constitution and for amending the constitution will aim, primarily, at giving the Commonwealth the necessary powers to deal with the evil of profiteering.'Mr Hughes has emphasised the importance of dealing with this question; but in the course of his remarks he suggested that the industrial situation was also serious, and that it was equally necessary that the Commonwealth should have full powers in this regard. Therefore, it is believed that he will aim, in his Bills, at improving the position in this respect, possibly in the direction of preventing the irritating delays which have been one of the most common' causes of industrial unrest.

Section 51 of the constitution sets out the legislative powers of the Commonwealth in detail. There are already 30 different matters in respect of which Parliament has power under this constitution to legislate, but the question of price fixing and the regulation of profits does not at present come within the scope of its activities. For this reason it is necessary, if the States do not agree to cede the desired powers, to introduce legislation for th" alteration of the constitution in the desired manner, in order to give the Commonwealth Parliament the powers which it at present lacks, not only in respect of profiteering. hut also in regard to industrial matters. Before the constitution is altered, however, it is necessary that a majority of the people of the Commonvvpalt.h should sanction the change. Theref-v, after the Bill for an Act to amend the constitution is passed bv j Parliament, a referendum will have to be taken to secure the oensent of tl* peoplo to the Act becoming operative. The Federal constitution provides that all measures relating to an amendment of the 'constitution must have been passed by both Houses of Parliament for at least two months before a referendum is taken on the questions with which the Dills /deal. It is understood that the proposals submitted to the "conference are similar to several of those which the Ministry put to the people as the basis for the referendum in June, 1913. The proposals in question are:— 1. All trade and commerce, whether between the Commonwealth and other countries, between the State, or within the boundaries of a State, shall he subject to Commonwealth regulations, the States to have no power to deal with such matters where State laws come into conflict with Commonwealth legislation.

2. All business corporations operating within the Commonwealth to become subject to Commonwealth law. 3. The Commonwealth to have full control of the terms and conditions of employment, in any trade, industry, or palling, and the settlement of industrial disputes within the of a State, as well as those extending beyond the limits of a State. 4. Comomnwenlth to regulate trusts, combinations, and monopolies in relation to the production, manufacture and the supply of goods. These proposals were rejected by the electors in IBIS.