Responsible government in the Dominions: Responsible government in the Dominions

Responsible government in the Dominions (Vol. 2)

Bibliographic data

Multivolume work

Identifikator:: 1896933912

Document type:: Multivolume work

Author:: Keith, Arthur Berriedale http://d-nb.info/gnd/119086794

Title:: Responsible government in the Dominions

Place of publication:: Oxford

Publisher:: Clarendon Press

Year of publication:: 1912-

Collection:: Economics Books

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

Volume

Identifikator:: 1896935052

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-238139

Document type:: Volume

Author:: Keith, Arthur Berriedale http://d-nb.info/gnd/119086794

Title:: Responsible government in the Dominions

Volume count:: Vol. 2

Place of publication:: Oxford

Publisher:: Clarendon Pr.

Year of publication:: 1912

Scope:: XI Seiten, Seiten 570-1100

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

Chapter

Document type:: Multivolume work

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Part IV. The federations and the union // Chapter II. The commonwealth of Australia

Collection:: Economics Books

934 THE FEDERATIONS AND THE UNION [PART IV the salaries of their members without reference to the people. But this step has not passed without a good deal of criticism in Australia, which accounts for the decision of the Govern- ment of South Australia to let the people have a voice in so important a matter. It should also be noted that while local option is a normal feature in the Dominions, a further step has been taken by New Zealand Act No. 46 of 1910, under which, in addition to voting for local option, a referendum will be taken contempora- neously with the next general election on the issue of national prohibition. Voters are required to vote either for or against such prohibition, and if three-fifths are in favour of prohibi- tion, the proposal shall be carried, and national prohibition shall come into force on the expiration of four years from the date of the election at which the proposal was carried. In New South Wales a referendum was taken in 1903 in order to ascertain the views of the people on the proposed redistribution of seats, in view of the general feeling that as some of the most important functions of government have been handed over to the federation the number of members in the State Legislative Assembly might advantageously be reduced. Under the Reduction of Members Referendum Act, No. 13 of 1903, the electors were given the option of having 125 members or 100 or 90. 47-19 of the electors voted. 63,171 voted for the status quo, 13,316 for 100 members, and 206,273 for 90. There were 41,484 informal votes, or 14-67 of the total number voting. In Victoria in 1904, on the strength of a resolution by the Legislative Assembly of the state, despite the disagreement of the Legislative Council, a referendum was taken by Sir Thomas Bent on the question of education. The electors were asked :— (1) whether they wished the Education Act to remain secular ; (2) whether they wished the scheme of Scripture lessons recommended by the Royal Commission on Religious Instruc- tion to be taught in the schools during school hours to children whose parents desired the teaching ; and (3) whether they were in favour of the prayers and hymns selected by the Royal Commission being used. The answers to all three questions were in the affirmative by majorities of 26,249, 8,955, and 9,450. As the answer to ! Turner, Australian Commonwealth, pp. 1568-63. The figures were: for, 12,943; against, 89,042 ; informal, 1.700 : percentage of votes, 61.88. See Parl. Pap., 1911. No. 26.

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: Responsible government in the Dominions (Vol. 2)

Multivolume work

Volume

Chapter

Table of contents

Download

Volume

Chapter

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation