AUSTRALIA'S REFERENDA

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 56, 3 September 1926, Page 7

AUSTRALIA'S REFERENDA

PUBLIC INTEREST GROWS ISSUE OF STATE AND FEDERAL POWERS. (United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 3rd September, 1 p.m.) SYDNHY, This Day. As tho final stages of tho referenda campaign are closing, public interest, which was previously apathetic, is gaining force. Both the Labour and Governmental Parties have vigorously pro-secuted-campaigns for and against the referenda throughout tho Commonwealth. An anomalous position has been created in New South Wales, where both State and Federal Electoral Acts provide only for the closing of hotels during the holding of elections. The electoral officers have decided that a referendum cannot be classed as an election; therefore, the hotels remain open. Broadly speaking, there are two proposals for the amendment of the Constitution before tho electors. The first 'asks 2ot more power to be given the Federal Government with the object of securing efficient control over trusts, combines and trades unions, and other industrial organisations in order to enable unionists to secure more control over their own organisations, and, particularly in times of industrial turmoil, to enable the. .to take a secret ballot on the question of a strike. The second question before the electors asks them to give the Federal Government what have hitherto been regarded as State rights and empower the Commonwealth Government in time of industrial stress to take whatever steps necessary to maintain transport services. The latter action would only be necessary in the event of a State failing to maintain essential services, as happened in the_recent seamen's strike. This is really the cause of the Federal Government's seeking the additional powers which were asked for by the Bruce Party, on the strength of the mandate given by the last Federal election to deal with alien agitators, but which are inoperative under the existing Constitution. § The Bruce Party is hopeful of carrying the propQsals, while their opponents, relying on the fate of tho previous referenda for the alteration of tho Federal Constitution, in which the electors expressed an opinion against granting tho Federal Government such wide powers as they demand, are confident of defeating them. Tho split in the Labour Party ren< ders the position more obscure than it would otherwise be. The pretty general opinion appears to bo that the electorate has not taken the trouble properly to acquaint itself with the intricacies of the issues involved, and that the vote will be to a considerable extent an ignorant one on both sides. The prospects of carrying the proposals are not regarded as too bright. It will be some days before tho result of the whole Australian vote can be finalised.