§ 46. Brigadier Raynerasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the result of the recent nationwide poll in Australia in which the people of that country refused to renew the wartime powers of the Federal Government to regulate commerce and industry; and whether he will make arrangements for a similar poll to be taken in Great Britain in the near future.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. As I understand it, this poll related to a proposal to transfer permanently to the Federal Government certain powers handed over to it by the State Governments as an emergency measure. It has no relevance to our non-federal system of Government.
§ Brigadier RaynerDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the people of this country might have made up their minds regarding the weaknesses and evils of Government control of commerce and industry rather more quickly than did the Australian people? Would it not be in the national interests to find out as quickly as possible whether that is so?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I do not believe in Government by plebiscite.