AUSTRALIAN REFERENDUM

Grey River Argus, 1 November 1916, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN REFERENDUM

LATEST RETURN. I MANY VOTES TO COME. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn) (Seed. October 31, at 10.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 31. The latest referendum figures are: — No .. '.. 901,075 V*? s .. .j 578,160 / It i& estimated that there arc still '350.000 votes of all classes uncounted. STILL IN DOUBT. . SYDNEY, October 31. As the figures stand, Victoria, Western Australia, and Tasmania voted "Yes" and the other States "No." The supporters. of conscription still' have a hope that the soldiers and absentee vpters may yet turn the balance, -v The leaders of both sides advocate that whatever is the result the recruiting campaign must be vigorously continued. WIDESPREAD INTEREST. LONDON. October 30. j There is widespread interest in the Australian Conscription Referendum. The "New York World," in a leader states that in rejecting" conscription Australia expressed the traditional unfriendliness of the Englishspeaking- communities to military comipulsion.. Whether or not it was defeated by women does not follow. They lack warm regard for war. The Australians fought bravely with heavy losses. A colony so far from the European field that has contributed so freely in men and money cannot be accused of shirking 1 its duty. With organised Labour against conscription, the other reasons for its defeat at the poll are of minor significance.