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.