AUSTRALIAN LABOUR PARTY'

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 November 1945, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR PARTY'

BUSINESS AT CONFERENCE Sydney, Nov. 27. The Labour Party conference to-day unanimously decided to ask the Federal Government to arrange a referendum Ss early as possible seeking an amendment of the Commonwealth Constitution to enable the Federal Parliament to legislate for the social and economic needs of Australia. Although no official announcement was made, this decision it is understood, was influenced by the recent decision of the High Court of Australia which was construed as an attack upon the powers of the Federal Parliament to appropriate funds for a free medicine scheme and indirectly as an attack upon all other social service act s of the Commonwealth. Many delegates to the conference expressed serious concern at the High Court decision following a statement by Mr Chif le-u at Monday’s session that there was grave doubt of the validity of all Fede: al social service legislation except the old age pensions, which was specifically provided for in the Constitution. Another resolution passed asked the Federal Government to consider In co-operation with State Governments nationalisation of all basic industries.