FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1919, Page 4

FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

, LITTLE PUBLIC INTEREST. THE REFERENDUM PROPOSALS. By Telegraph.—Press Asml—Copyright. Received Dee. 4, 7.40 p.m. , Sydney, Dee. 4 Beyond bitter leader and party attacks, so far there is little public interest ap« parent in the election campaign. AU par* ties are fighting shy of the referendum proposals. They are apparently fearful of causing splits in the party ranks on that issue. The are afraid of provok* ing a, conflict with the State Govern' ments, whose powers will be considerably curtailed if the referendum is carried. The Victorian and South Australian Governments have expressed hostility to tha referendum, while the New South Wales Nationalist Party, at a meeting, decided that members should be Allowed a free hand to vote as they like. The Nationalist press argues that i| the Hughes party wins, it can be expect* ed to use the extended constitutional powers with a reasonable sense of responsibility, but if Labor wins and g»i«( the extended powers it might prove «th« erwise, and the press warns electors the question is. of much more importance; thari is seemingly attached to it. The Labor ranks are divided on thai question of the referendum, which va# previously one of tne strong Labor, planks. The fact of it being a Government measure is largely responsible fof the present opposition.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.