The Premier of New South , Wales, Mr. Reid, has made
a. notable proposal. At a public meeting held in Sydney on Monday, he announced that he intended to introduce a Bill for putting an end to deadlocks between the two Houses. The Bill would provide that, where a Bill had been sent to the Council twice in two consecutive Sessions, and had been rejected, it should be submitted to the electors by a Re- ferendum, which should take place during the recess at the end of the second Session, under safeguards to prevent the reference of insignificant subjects. This is a very statesman- like proposal, and may prove the first practical step in a constitutional reform which will affect the whole Empire. If the experiment succeeds, the plan we have always advocated for solving the question of the House of Lords will be greatly advanced. We would settle disputes between the two Houses as to the will of the people by a direct appeal to the people,— providing, of course, as Mr. Reid intends, that appeals should not take place on minor questions.
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