WIDER POWERS VOTE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1944, Page 5

WIDER POWERS VOTE

AUSTRALIAN CAMPAIGN

(Special P.A. Correspondent.) Rec. 10 a.m. SYDNEY, July 26. The Prime Minister, Mr. J. Curtin, in a broadcast, has told Australians that the Avider pOAvers referendum will mark the culminating point of all i their efforts "to bring: to this country a peace worth fighting for." He said that the AVorkers would I have the same right to choose their occupations as before the war, and that the issue of socialisation did not arise. With the Federal Government lacking the jpOAvers possessed by legislatures of ■ Great Britain, America, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand, no Allied country would be less able to cope Avith the evils of inflation after the Avar than Australia if the Avider powers were not granted. As in last August's Federal elections, "Trust in Curtin" is a keynote of the Government's referendum drive, Avhich is noAV in full swing. Some political commentators believe that the enhanced prestige Avith Avhich Mr. Curtin has emerged from last week's short Parliamentary session may tip the referendum scale. Mr. Curtin. report on his mission abroad, though lacking in spectacular features, was regarded as one of his most constructive statements on foreign policy. "The Prime Minister convinced the House that he had positive and thoroughly worked out ideas about peacemaking and peace-keeping," summed up the Sydney "Daily Telegraph's" political correspondent. Bureaucratic highhandedness during Mr. Curtin's absence from Australia, and the Government's excessive use of the facilities of office in the presentation of the "Yes" case, Avere expected to be the two main pegs on which the Opposition would hang severe Parliamentary criticism of the referendum. But the Opposition's strictures lacked the anticipated sting. j OPPOSITION'S FUTURE. "After five undistinguished days the session died of premature senility," ivrote the "Sydney Morning Herald's" Canberra correspondent. "However, it posed an important question: What is the future of the two Opposition parties noiv operating; or, in more exact terms, have they a future at all?" It is already authoritatively suggested that steps will be taken after the referendum in a further effort to Aveld into a neAV nation-wide political ■ party all the anti-Labour organisations !in Australia. Tho new party, Ai'hich the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" says will have the financial backing of the big commercial interests in all States, may be named the Australian Liberal Party. The referendum, despite the attempts to divorce it from party politics, already seems likely to become yet another test of strength between the Government and the Opposition. Fought on such a basis the "Yes" case may well be assured of the support of the majority of CoinmomvealU. voters — but the gaining of the requisite majority in the six States will prove more difficult.