FIVE-YEAR TEST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 137, 12 June 1944, Page 4

FIVE-YEAR TEST

Increased Federal Powers In Australia REFERENDUM ON AUGUST 19 Rec. 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, this day. A referendum to determine whether the Commonwealth Government shall be given greater powers to carry cut its post-war programme will be held on August 19. Announcing this to-night, the acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Forde, pointed out that the powers sought would be for a probationary period of five years. Before that period ended the people would have another opportunity to determine whether the powers should be permanently embodied in the Federal Constitution.

A move to allow the Communist party affiliation with the New South Wales branch of the Australian Labour party has been defeated at the party's official State conference by 271 votes to 77. Nearly 100 delegates failed to vote on the issue. The conference decided that the Labour party should embark on a ten-year plan for socialisation cf Australia. A draft plan will be submitted to the party's central executive.

The conference also decided that the credit resources of the Commonwealth Bank should be used, if needed, to assure full post-war employment. Speaking to the delegates, the Attorney-General, Dr. Evatt, hinted at additional credit control to aid Australia's war effort. He also said that the powers the Federal Government sought by the referendum were needed to prevent another depression. "The opposition to granting powers will come from trusts, monopolies and combines, who want to get control of the nation back into their own hands," declared Dr. Evatt.

"These people," he continued, "are using a false catch cry that Labour intends to introduce industrial conscription in the post-war years. These capitalist concerns have claimed that the existence of 250,000 unemployed in Australia is a normal thing. When the referendum is carried, we will be able to help to abolish unemployment, repatriate Service personnel and guarantee fair minimum prices to the men on the land."