INITIATIVE REFERENDUM.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 291, 18 September 1919, Page 9

INITIATIVE REFERENDUM.

RECALL.

It Parliament fails to enact me a sure* which the people consiai. ccssary for their welfare, a petition may be prepared containing a Bill to give elfect to these mcasuics, ana when the required number ot (attested) signatures have been obtained, Parliament is compelled to pass the Bill within a certain number ol du>s, or submit it to the electors lor approval or rejection, with or without a counter or conflicting measure. 1 he Mill approved (if any) at the polls becomes »aw within so many (say Ooj days. Ibis is what is called the Initiative. Tlie Referendum is used to prevent Parliament from passing any measure detrimental to the people. Within a given time the people may get up a petition demanding a poll of the electors to determine whether ..n Act p.issi d by Parliament should become law. If no such petition is prepared, the Act becomes law auton.au .1 within a certain number of days. If a petition is got up a poll must betaken, and the fate of the Act d' p< 1 upon the result ol the poll. As to the Recall. lo recall a member, a petition must be signed by a number of the electors, say J 5 or so, per cent. (In some American States by an absolute majority of the electors.) The petition must state definitely and clearly the t barge against the sitting member, su< h .»s flagrant breaches of pre-election promises, immoral conduct, or discreditable actions, and a copy thereof i* furnished to every elector, together with the member’s defence, prepared by him self. The member is allowed an opportunity to defend himself in a given namber of words, and in a specified time, and if recalled would have the right to offer himself for re election.