FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 61, 5 December 1919, Page 7

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

FIGHTING SHY OF REFERENDUM

PROPOSALS

SITUATION REVIEWED

V tftr Telegraph—Preis Awoclatlon-OopyTlglH ,(Rec.' December 4, 7.20 p.m.) Sydney, December 4. Beyond ■ bitter leader and party attacks. so far there is little public interest apparent in the election campaign. AH parties arc fielding shy of the referendum proposals. They are apparently fearful of causing splits in the party ranks on that issue. The Nationalists nro afraid of provoking a conflict with the State Governments, whoso powere will be considerably curtailed if the referendum is carried. The Victorian and South Australian Governments have expressed hostility to the referendum, while tho Ne.w'South Wales Nationalist Party, at a' meeting, decided that members should bo allowed a free hand to vote as they liked. Tho Nationalist Press argues that if Mr. Hughes's parly wins it can be expected to use the extended constitutional powers with a reasonable sense of responsibility, but if Labour wins and gains extended powers it might prove otherwise, . and warns the electors that tho question has much more importance that is seemingly. attached to it. The Labour ranks are divided on the question of the referendum, which previously was one of the strong Labour planks. The fact of it being a Government measure is largely responsible' for the present opposition—Press Assn.