AUSTRALIAN REFERENDUM.

Kaikoura Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 66, 24 August 1944, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN REFERENDUM.

WIDER FEDERAL POWERS. SYDNEY, August 19. Australia has rejected the Federal Government’s appeal ‘or additional powers for the post-war period. Uear “No” majorities hav» b< vn ecurded in four States—New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania. Victoria, which earlier had a majority for “Yes’’ changed to a “No’’ majority. South Australia and Western Australia show small “Yes” majorities.

To carry the referendum the Government needed a “Yes” vote in four States, as well as an aggregate majority of the electors. Although only 3,087,259 votes had been counted out of a total enrolment of 4,407,507 electors, the subsequent counting is virtually certain not to affect the referendum’s fate.

The figures for the Commonwealth at present are 1,733,978 votes for “No.” “No” majority of 227,132. The figures for the States are: ‘ ‘ No. ” “ Yes. ’ ’

SYDNEY, August 21. The Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. Curtin) is understood to be ready to submit his own and other Cabinet portfolios to a caucus election should there be party recrimination over the referendum.

New South Wales 649,773 586,742 Victoria 507,550 491,169 Queensland 225,670 136,728 South Australia 150,280 158,373 Western Australia 87,785 92,837 Tasmania 67,820 40,997