Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 12 December 1924, page 9


INDIANS' RIGHT TO VOTE.

ADMITTED BY COMMONWEALTH

Appeal Abandoned.

The rights of natural born British Indians to have their names placed on the Common-wealth roll is apparently to be admitted by the Federal Crown Law authorities. The

appeal against the decision of Mr Cohen, P. M., who ordered that the name of Mitta Bullosh of Berkley street, Carlton, should be placed on the Commonwealth roll, has been abandoned.

When Mr Cohen's decision was announced notice of appeal to the High Court was given. Mr. Justice Duffy granted leave, which was asked for on the ground that the order of the police magistrate was bad in law, and that Mitta Bullosh was not entitled under section 41 of the Constitu-tion or at all to be enrolled as an elector of the Commonwealth.

The matter came before the High Court at its last sitting. Mr. Keating and Mr Llewelyn Jones appeared for Bullosh. They were instructed by Mr. F. E. Bateman. Mr.

Keating said that he proposed to ask the Court to interpret section 41 of the Const-

tution. This would require a full bench of the High Court, which was not then avail-

able in Melbourne. Finally the case was set down for hearing before the full Bench of the High Court in Melbourne in Feb

ruary.

Mr. Bateman has now received from Mr G. C. Castles, assistant Federal Crown soli-

citor, a notice that the appeal will not be prosecuted. An application will therefore be made to the High Court for dismissal of the application on the ground of "want of prosecution."