FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 770, 19 March 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

STRENUOUS CONTESTS. JTHE WORKERS AND POLLING DAY. • A PROPOSAL NEGATIVED. 'ily TeleeraDh—Preaa Association— CoDyrleht . Sydney, March 18. ! Tho Federal election campaign w in 'lull swing. In all the States, tho parties aro working hard, and strenuous contests |are promised. . The Labour Council negatived a motion Jthat all unionists should cease work at 'dinner time on polling day; Tho supportors of tho motion alleged that there had been many cases where bosses had refused to allow men timo to go to the ballot-box, and urged ' that' cessation of work, would stimulate interest in the 'election. ' Opponents of tho motion argued that the motion really'meant a general strike, and would be giving the other side a big handle. •' It was eventually decided to'ask the Government to declare a half-holiday on polling day. ' , , THE FINANCIAL AGREEMENT. ' '■' ' Melbourne, March 18. _The Australian Natives' Association Conference resolved that the financial agreement between the States and tho Commonwealth would prove detrimental to the best interests of tho Commonwealth. . • '.■■■.

lln connection with the Federal elections there .will he two referendums upon tlie adoption of the financial agreement and the transfer of the Stato debts. The financial agreement provides for the insertion in the Constitution of a provision making it obligatory upon the Commonlvoalth to pay to each State 255. per head of the population of the State as ascertained by the laws of the Commonwealth. The question to be submitted to the electors is: "Do you approvo of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution, ■ entitled constitution alteration (finances), 1909 f" The second referendum is with regard to the taking over of the State debts, and the question'will be submitted in the same terms as the previous one.]