AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE

Grey River Argus, 25 November 1942, Page 4

AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE

FEDERAL POWERS

EXTENSION PROPOSED . •

Momentous Referendum

(Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 9.50) SYDNEY, Nov. 24. Sir Keith Murdoch, writing in the “Melbourne Herald” declared: The course of true national strength and greatness demands 'an extension ot the powers of Australia’s Federal Government. . The most represent- | ative political gathering in the history of Australia is now meeting in Canberra to discuss such an extension. This is the Commonwealth Constitutional Convention, comprising twenty-four representatives of the Federal Parliament and of all of t ll6 State Parliaments. The delegates are considering the proposals of the Attorney General, Dr. Evatt, to carry the wartime over-riding powers of the Federal Government into the peace. 1 a “The convention is being asked to approve of Federal powers to deal with matters affecting postwar Australia under three headings: (1) Matters of a Commonwealth national character. (2) Matters arising .from international agreements and of the end of the war Peace Treaty. (3) 'Postwar reconstruction.” Referendum will be necessary before such powers could be put into effect. ' u Most Australians are now in a mood to increase the powers of the Commonwealth. “The Sydney Telegraph’ in an editorial says: “Most Australians want to immobilise inter-state jealously and obstinate parochialism, which have lost us so many opportunities for balanced developmentThere is, however, a wide fear that « ■Dr? Evatt’s proposals “imply a prospect of dictatorial rule, threatening Australia’s democratic way of Ine. As the proposals stand, some commentators feel that they may quite well have the effect of abolishing the State Governments. A considerable amount of the uncertainty which such a ,prospect has aroused may be greatlv reduced as the convention progresses, since Mr i Curtin and Dr. Evatt will indicate that alterations which they are prepared to make in a Bill which must .profoundly effect the whole future ot Australia. I Sir K. Murdoch says: “We need great internal constructions, progress in industry, housing, education and ; civic duties. We need planned marketing, planned production, the use of bank credits, and the encouragement of national purpose and. faith. We need ten million people in ten years, and all in improved living conditions.” Such a statement of the aims of Australia’s post-war construction and development is generally accepted; but there is, too, considerable support for Sir K. Murdoch’s further comment that “to endow the Federal Go- - vernment with every power is to hand the country over to the first dictator thrown tip bv a militant majority.” vViXh their country's future and the future of the entire Southern Pacific, as the tremendous issue involved, Australians are giving the closest attention to the Constitutional Convention proceedings. Wide hopes have been, expressed that an agreement • between the representatives may be reached, since it is felt that bitter controversy would seal the fate of the referendum to) be taken. ’

Post-war Plans GIGANTIC DIMENSIONS. f (Rec. 11.55.) CANBERRA, Nov. 24. Gigantic plans for post-war _ employment and construction, which will bet possible under an* amendment ( Of the constitution, were outlined by Mr Curtin, Prime Minister, in opening the Constitution Convention * They include the following:— The building of a quarter of a million homes. Irrigation. ; Oil conservation. The development of the air transport industry. v, Child welfare services v Health services. “The. Commonwealth plans involve no real threat to legitimate private enterprise and initiative,”’’-"de-clared Mr Curtin, who added that, with proper encouragement, Austra- I lian industry and enterprise could be expanded, enormously. “Up to the present,’’ he said, "private enterprise had not, of itselr, succeeded in bridging the gap. “Above all,’’ said Mr Curtin, “we must make a reality of the four free-' doms —freedom of speech, religious freedom, freedom from want, and > freedom from fear.’’