REFERENDUM TO-DAY

Grey River Argus, 19 August 1944, Page 6

REFERENDUM TO-DAY

AUSTRALIAN STATES May be Evenly Divided (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 9.49.) SYDNEY, -August 18. The Commonwealth Wider Powers referendum will be decided to-mbr-row. The Government will receive a majority of the votes. Yet if there should be a lack of a,States’ majority, it would cause defeat of the referendum. To alter the Constitution, tne referendum must be carried, not only by the electors, but by a majority of the States. Three States are regarded as likely to favour wider Federal powers. Two are reckoned tc be against them. Tlie vital srrfh State is doubtful. The “Ybs” States may be New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. “No” States are likely to be Queensland and Tasmania. Soutn Australia is doubtful. Factors believed likely to affect the vote of the various States are:— New South Wales: This State is traditionally Labour, and .the Opposition influence there has recently waned. In spite of strikes and the revelations, of censorship abuses, a “Yes” majority is expected. Victoria: Much influential support for the referendum, including that of church leaders, high legal authorities, and sir Keith Murdoch’s press, is believed to have more than couhter-bai-qhced the “No” advocacy of the Victorian State Government and of Federal Opposition members.

Western Australia: This,is Mr. Curtin’s home State. The author of tne referendum, the Federal AttorneyGeneral, Dr. Evatt, was accorded a i warm reception when he visited there recently. Queensland: The , general war impact oh this State, and. the recent occurrence of food arid other shortages in the State’s out-back areas, liave aroused antagonism towards the transfer of more powers to tiie Commonwealth.

Tasmania: :This State regards itself as a “Cinderella,” arid fears that its interests may, suffer from an extension of Federal powers. South Australia: The “Yes” organisers hope that industrial labour support and the dependence of the primary producers, on Federal aid may swing this State in the referendum's favour, but the result is believed to be in the balance.

A failure, because of illness, with bronchial influenza, of Air. Curtin, to visit Tasmania and Queensland has prejudiced tlie' referendum’s chances in those two States. In a national broadcast from the study of the Prime Minister’s lodge, where he is confined, Mr. Curtin has made a filial appeal for a transfer of powers. In a brief, trenchant speech, he declared: “By distortion, lying, and vilification, sectional interests have done everything in their powder to deny the people the right in peace to enjoy the things for Which the national existence is .staked in war.”

The Opposition Leader, Mr. R. G. Menzies, making a final national radio appeal for the “No” case, said:, “No country recovered from ,the last depression quicker than did Australia, without extra powers.” He added that a single vote for all of the fourteen powers sought was a denial of demo? eratic freedom. The granting of powers would sound the death knell of freedom. . . • Bitter exchanges have marked the last day’s campaigning,