REFERENDUM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 767, 16 March 1910, Page 8

REFERENDUM.

COMING FEDERAL ELECTIONS. THE FINANCIAL AGREEMENT. By TelecraDh—Press Association—Oopyriehi. (Rec. March 15, 10.30 p.m.). Melbourne, March 15. A caucus of supporters of the State Ministry decided to vote "Yes", on the financial agreement when submitted to the Federal referendum. EXPLANATORY STATEMENT. On March 7 the Governor-General of Australia issued to the divisional returning officers of the Commonwealth the writs fnr the election of members of the House of Representatives. The State Governors issued to the Commonwealth electoral officers of their respective States the writs for the. election of Senators. The Governor-General also issued to the Chief Electoral Officer of the Commonwealth the writs for the two referendiims upon the adoption of the financial agreement and the transfer of the State debts. The time for receiving nominations will close at noon to-day, and polling day will be April 13. The time for' receiving applications for enrolment closed at 6 p.m. on March 7. >

There will be two referendums. In connection with them the Chief Electoral Officer has issued official explanatory statements. The first sets' out in detail the terms of the financial agreement, which provides for the insertion in the Constitution of a provision making it obligatory upon the Commonwealth to pay to each State 255. per head of the population of the State as ascertained by the laws of the Commonwealth. The question to be submitted to the electors is:— 'Do you approve of the proposed law for. the alteration of the Constitution, entitled constitution alteration (finances), 1909 ?" - •

Beneath this are two squares, with the words "Yes" and "No" beside them. The printed' instructions are "The elector will mark the ballot paper by making a cross in the square opposite the word 'Yes' or 'No/ "

The second referendum is with. regard to the. taking over of the State debts, and tho question will be submitted in the same terms as the Previous one,' with the substitution of Constitution Alteration (State Debts), 1909, as the title.