THE REFERENDUM.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] see I am quoted in your last issue with regard to the question of a Referendum. Your correspondent says he does not quote my exact words—surely it is fairer to a candidate to write to him, and get a written answer, if it is intended to publish it. I have not much to quarrel with over his state- ment, although I never used the words put into my mouth, and he has evidently misunderstood me in the last sentence. However, I should like to state that I am in 'favour of a Referendum properly and usefully applied.—I am, Sir, &c., 180 Queen's Gate, S.W. 7. ERNEST MAXINE.
MANY more of our readers have obtained replies from their candidates to the Referendum question published in the Spectator of November 24th
Will you, if elected to Parliament, do your best to secure the passage at an early date of a Referendum Bill under which Bills of importance can, if demanded by not less than one- third of the House of Commons, be submitted to a Poll of the People 7"
We give the replies in brief :—
Mr. C. Minns. Hammondswood, Frensham, Surrey, writes that Mr. A. M. Samuel, now Unionist Member for the Farnham Division of Surrey, replied " Yes. I am fully in accord."
Captain A. Campbell Colquhoun, Carscaddon, Drumehapel, Dumbartonshire, sends two replies, one from Mr. W. H. Martin, Labour Member for Dumbartonshire, to the effect that Mr. Martin is " quite in favour of the principle of the Referendum and would support its passing if it came before the House." The other reply is from Mr. J. B. Couper, defeated candidate for hiaryhill, saying that he " has not given consideration to the question of the Referendum principle."
Mr. F. B. Hopkins, Physgil, Whithom, Wigtownshire, sends the reply of Major C. Randolph Dudgeon, Member for Galloway : " I am a wholehearted supporter of the principle of Referendum, and in my opinion the development of the three-party system in this country makes the adoption of a direct Poll of the People on a specific question or questions an absolute necessity. I am afraid your suggestion that one-third of the House of Commons could claim a Poll of the People on any question would have the effect of making the system unpopular in the country by being resorted to too frequently. I should therefore personally favour the Executive (the Cabinet) having the power to decide whether or not a Referendum should be held, with the proviso that in cases of disagreement between the first and second Chambers the question at issue should automatically go to a Referendum."
" Constant Reader," Edinburgh, sends the reply of Sir Samuel Chapman, Conservative Member for the South Division of Edin- burgh : " It will give me great pleasure to support a Referendum Bill. This has long been an object for which I have fought. In my first contest, alone in Scotland in 1900, 1 inserted this in my election address and programme of reforms. It is the most neces- sary and practical constitutional reform we could have."
Dr. E. G. Williams, The Goldings, Colwell, Malvern, sends four replies. (1) Sir Sydney Russell-Wells, M.P., "thinks much can be said for and against the Referendum," but would not commit himself to secure the passage of a Referendum Bill. (2) Sir Martin Conway, M.P., says : " Most decidedly, ' Yes.' " (8) Mr. H. A. L. Fisher, M.P., says : " I prefer the method of Proportional Repre- sentation." (4) Mr. E. W. Shepperson says : " Yes, most certainly."
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