MAJORITY FOR "NO" REDUCED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2919, 3 November 1916, Page 7

MAJORITY FOR "NO" REDUCED

AUSTRAUA'S CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM JJIR, HUGHES INTERVIEWED •■' i . HIS POLITICAL FUTURE ByTelfisraDh-Prces Aesooiation-Oopyriffii / Sydney, November 2. The Referendum returns, continue to trickle in. The latest figures hare slightly improved the "Yes" position, reducing the majority for • "No" : to 80,874. The situation is not yet clear. Mr. Hughes (Federal Prime Minister) stated to an interviewer that .it would b} premature to say anything until tho result of the referendum is beyond all possibility of doubt. For the present he was considering the whole position. He thought that by the end of the week,, most of the votes would be cc.untojl, and he would know fairly definitely how the decision of the people had gone.

, In view of Mr. Hughes having accepted the resignations of Messrs. Higgs, Russell, ana Gardner, and _ of . other factors, the opinion is gaining ground that he intends to continue as Prime Minister unless he i 3 ejeoted from the position. The he is making indicate that he anticipates remaining as head of the Ministry for some time to come. STILL COMING DOWN. (Beo. November 2, 10 p.m.) Sydney, November 2. " The "No" majority has touched the lowest figures yet—79,286. VIGOROUS MEASURES FOR THE SLACKERS V; .:' SEVERAL ARRESTS. : (Reo; Nov. 2, 10.20 p.m.) Sydney, November 2. The authorities intend to take vigorous action against men who haye failed to'obey the call to enrol. ; Already several have been arrested and placed in the camps. So far, of those examined, 86,2-55 have been declared' fit. . PENALISED FOR HIS PATRIOTISM TASMANIAN LABOUR PREMIER ' DEPOSED. Hobart, November 2. The Labour Party, has deposed Mr. John Earle from the leadership, because of his attitude on inscription. Mr. Earle in announoing his deposition in the Assembly, referred, to it as a painful ordeal; after occupying the position of leader of the party for ton years, but his conviotions on the con-' scription question were more to him, he eaid, than his political position. They were as much as lifo to him. COMONWEAWiTPOWERS BILL REJECTED ■ November 2. The: Legislative Council has rejected the Powers Bill, gfving certain powers during, war-time. ■ BRITISH ARMY LOSSES IN OCTOBER FIGURES FOR AUSTRALIANS TO PONDER OVER Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London,: November 1. . •.; The Army casualty lists for October aggregated:— ■ • ' Officers ' 4,866 ' Men 101,340 . . The totals includo, approximately, 1050 officers and 19,865 meu". killed or idled. \ • _ There were also 415 naval .casualties. r ' - ' .' : " : >