THE REFERENDA.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 1477, 27 April 1911, Page 1

THE REFERENDA.

AUSTRALIA'S EXCITEMENT YESTERDAY. THE "NOES" HAVE IT, SAYS THE LATEST RETURNS. BY BLECTSIO TELEGBAPH COPYBIGHT. ( (PEE PBESS ASSOCIATION.) Sydney, April 26. The weather was fine for the Referenda poll. Tho voting proceeded steadily, but quietly. Women turned out more freely than was expected. I The voting ceased at 7 o'clock, aud I before that hour crowds began to gather in the vicinity of the newspaper 1 offices, where the returns were postd latr. The streets in the vicinity were dnsely packd. Excitment ran high as the numbers for and against mounted up. The electors were asked to say " yes " or " no " as to whether they : desired an alteration in the Constitution to give the Commonwealth Government the power, firstly, to deal with the creation, dissolution, and control of corporations, including foreign corporations; also, the regulation of wages or conditions of labour in any trade, industry, or calling, the ; prevention and settlement of indus- I trial disputes, and tho power to deal with combinations and monopolies in ' relation to the production, manufacture, or supply of goods. Secondly, where Parliament has declared any industry or business to be a monopoly, whether Parliament shall have power to make laws regarding the carrying' on of such business under the control of the Commonwealth, and to acquire for that purpose on just terms, any property used in connection with such industry or business. To carry the Referenda a majority of affirmative votes must be obtained from at least four out of six of the States, also' a majority of the whole of the votes polled. Later. Latest returns, although far from complete, place the Noes in a strong lead in all the States on both issues. The returns were coming in very slowly. Early New South Wales and Victorian figures showed a majority of the Noes on both questions. It is unlikely that anything like complete returns will be available for some days. Even decisive figures will take a day or two.