COMMONWEALTH ELECTIONS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 5, 6 June 1913, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH ELECTIONS

THE FATE OF THE HEEERENDA. ABSENTEE VOTES. By GaMe—Press Association—Copyright. ] Sydney, June 5. The referenda position has altered.] "Yes" lias a .majority on all questions on; the total vote and is leading in four j States. These are the two conditions re-; quired for the success of the proposals, but it is too early yet to regard the re-; suit as certain, as many thousand votes are still in doubt. ! The counting of the absentee votes as i proceeding -slowly. It is unlikely thai' the complete figures for the election will I be available before the end of - next week. The delay caused by absentee votes isi illustrated by the fact that in Sydney; Town Hall votes were polled for every i electorate in the Commonwealth. With the exception of one, these have to ihe j sent by post. ■ , i STILL 'IN THE BALANCE. j LABOR WDfMNG THE SENATE. I ; Received 6, 1.5 a.m. <* : i Sydney, June 5. To-day's figures have, practically unailtered the election position. Labor has slightly improved its lead, both at Ulawarra and Ballarat, but the present figures are. capable of wide alteration. . .The Herald predicts, that Labor will win 12 and the Liberals six Senate seats. REFERENDA PROPOSALS. The following are the six questions in J connection with the referenda proposals, > submitted to l the Australian electors on Saturday:— 1. Do you approve of the proposed ■ law for the alteration of the Constitution, entitled ''Constitutional Alteration (Trade and Commerce) 1912?" This j Amendment will give the Parliament !' power to make laws in relation to trade and commerce, not only between the States and with foreign countries as at II present, but over trade and commerce within the Commonwealth (except trade' and commerce on railways the property of a State).

2. Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled "Constitution Alteration (Corporations) 1912?" The amendment seeks to give the Federal ./Parliament power to make laws for corporations—or companies, as they are commonly called. It will enable Parliament to make laws fop all private corporations other than those "formed solely for religious, charitable, scientific, or artistic purposes and not for the acquisition of gain by the corporation or its members."

3. Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled "Constitution Alterations (Railway Disputes) 1912?" This will give power to the Federal Parliament to, deal with industrial disputes on State railways or tramways through Conciliation and' Arbitration Courts.

5. Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution' entitled "Constitution Alteration (Trusts), 1912?" This amendment gives the Federal Parliament power to make laws with respect to trusts and combines and monopolies in relation to the production, manufacture or supply of goods or the supply of services in , any part of the Commonwealth. It will not enable the Parliament to deal with commercial and trading trusts, combines and monopolies. The trade and commerce amendment is essential for that purpose. 0. Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled "Constitution Alteration (Nationalisation of Monopolies) 1912?" This amendment will give the Parliament power to purchase on just terms any business which, in the opinion of the Parliament, is a monopoly and run it as a Commonwealth concern for the benefit of the communitv.