The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1926.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1926.

THE REFERENDA PROPOSALS. ' The proposals in Australia. u re causing a split in the Labour party, which may have consequences of a serious nature. Writs have been issued for the referendum poll, which is to take place on September -,th. The chief amendment to the constitution proposed is that dealing with industrial powers, which proposes to set up a tribunal of three, wifcii absolute power to deal with industrial <\ -putes—a 'tribunal which would over-ride State laws that conflicted with Commonwealth laws, and have power to deal with disputes in any one State, instead of lieing limited, as now, to disputes extending beyond the limit of any one State. It was admitted recently bv Dr Earle Page, Federal Treasurer, that the proposed amendment was aimed at the New South Wales State Parliament, which, lie said, “ deliberately passed an Act providing that no matter what the number of hours determined by a Commonwealth award might he, 44 hours shall he the legal miximum in that State, and may In the future enact a 40-hour week.” In regard to the Essential Services Bijl proposed under the

referenda, Senator Needham recently declared in the Senate that it was merely a piece of strike-breaking nine iuevy, to which Sir Henry Banvcli replied: “It is useless to attempt to hide, the fact that Is probably in the mind of the Government as far as strikes, attended with violence, or that threaten essential services, are concerned. It is certainly in my mind, and I have not much doubt that the power may be required principally for that purpose.’’ To this latter proposal, however, Mr Charlton and other Labour members arc opposed. Mr Charlton is the leader of the Labour Party in the Federal Parliament, ami lie is giving general support to the referenda proposals. So far despite strong pressure from the party machine, lie has refused to budge. His attitude has raised the ire of the political Labour party, and a recent message from Sydney stated that Mr W. Seale, general president of the Australian Labour party, had sent out the statement that lie will expel Mr Charlton, Leafier of the Parliamentary Labour party in the House of Representatives, unless lie alters his attitude of partial support'for the referenda proposals of the Commonwealth Government. The gathering carried the following motion, nt the instance of this gentleman : “That this congress expresses its disgust at the cowardly action of those representatives on the Federal Executive who have given the -Federal politicians permission to have open mind on the proposals.” A similar fate is threatened others of the party who are with Mr Charlton in the matter, these including Senator Barnes, president of the Australian Workers’ Union. At a recent nice*

of tlie A.X.P. nt Sydney Trades Halt, a motion that those who failed to oppose the referenda sliofild he expelled from the parly was not well supported, and was allowed to lapse. fh.o member accused others of being afraid to hurt the dignity of some politicians. “Unless the politician is bigger than the movement,’’ be said, “then to hell with the politician.” The Cominpnist branch of the Party is active ' also in working against the referendum and Mr Charlton. A manifesto just issued reads: “The agreement between the leader of the Federal Labour party and Stanley Unite on the referendum, asking for an extension of Federal powers in connection with industrial affairs, constitutes a direct betrayal of the working class of this country. Unless the workers of this country awaken to the situation, they are liable to acquiesce in the granting of power to the enemies of the working class—power which will he used to crush them. Insist that your officials take steps twards forming one united front of the workers against the proposals of Bruce and Charlton.” Voting at the poll is compulsory, so that a very heavy vote is sure to he recorded next Saturday week.