HOW AUSTRALIA IS VOTING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 76, 22 December 1917, Page 9

HOW AUSTRALIA IS VOTING

BIG POLL AGAINST CONSCRIPTION

"NO" MAJORITY, 163,578 Sydney, December 21. The latest incomplete returns give a ■majority of 153,969 against conscription. . . 1 . Yes. No. 1 New South Wales ... 221,964 342,243 Victoria ; 239,491 254,022 Que'cnsland 66,785 91,529 South Australia 58,150 77,280 Wostralia" 42,632 22,403 Tasmania 26,626 25,225 The vote of the soldiers at the front is not expected for several weeks. — Press Assn. THE PREVIOUS REFERENDUM. ' Tho voting in tho various States on the last conscription referendum, on Octobcr 28, was as follows:— State. Yes. No. New South Wales ... 356,805 474,544 Victoria 353,930 328,216 Queensland 144,200 158,051 South Australia 87,924 119,236 "Western-Australia ... 94,069 40,884 Tasmania 48,493 > 37,833 Federal 'territories... 2,136 1,269 Totals 1.0,087,575 '.1,100,033 THE LATEST,—LEAD INCREASED. (Rec. December 22, 0.40 a.m.) 1 London, December 21. The "No" lead steadily increases. The totals now stand: No 861,397 Yes 697,819 Majority 163,578 Total votes on tho roll, 2,772,583. While it is generally accepted that there is very little hope of the present position being reversed, the figures arc not accepted as final. It is roughly estimated that 300,000 soldiers and absentees' votes are still uncounted, from which a big proportion of "Yes" votes is expected. Assuming that the reinforcements proposal is. definitely defeated, speculation' on the Government's next move is already rife, although it is highly improbable that the Ministry will take action until after the holdays. There is a probability of a Federal election, but neither Mr. Hughes nor his Ministers are prepared to make any comments. —Press Assn.