STATE CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1944, Page 5

STATE CONTROL

AUSTRALIAN PLANS

LABOUR CLAIMS POWERS

ißy Telegraph—Press Association~Copyright.j

SYDNEY, December 4. The statement of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. R. G. Menzies, linkin? up the result of the recent wider powers referendum with the AustraliaNew Zealand discussions was very misleading, said the Attorney-General, Dill. V. Evatt, tonight.

Discussions on full employment had been going on over a lengthy period said Dr. Evatt.. The fact was that for more than, two years past both the Australian and New Zealand Labour Governments had endeavoured to promote an international understanding whereby nations, including the United Kingdom and the United States, would forward domestic policies aiming at full employment.

One of the main arguments against the referendum was that the Commonwealth already possessed sufficient legal powers for many purposes of posfrwar reconstruction, including banking control.

Clearly then the referendum vote did not mean banking legislation should not. be passed by the Common-wealth-Parliament.

The Australian Constitution confers powers on Parliament to make laws covering banking other than State banking, also State banking extending beyond the limits of the State concerned, the incorporation of banks, and the issue of paper money. "It may also acquire property "on just terms" for any purpose in respect of which it has power to • make laws. The Federal Government is given no powers under the Constitution to acquire and operate private industry.