FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17335, 5 December 1919, Page 7

FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

INDIFFERENCE OF PUBLIC. THE REFERENDUM ISSUE. DIVISION WITHIN PARTIES. By Telegraph-Press Association-Coryritiht. (Received 8.30 p m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY. Dec. 4. Beyond bitter party attacks, gf far there is little public interest apparent in the Federal election campaign. All paTties are fighting shy of the referendum proposals. They are apparently fearful of causing splits in the party ranks, and on that issue the Nationalists are afraid of provoking conflict with the State Governments, whose powers will be considerably ourUiled if the referendum is carried. The Victorian and South Australian Governments have expressed hostility to the referendum, while th e ?>.ew South Wales Nationalist Party at a meeting decided that its members would be allowed a free hand to vote as they like. The Nationalist press argues that if Mr Hughes" party wins it can be expected to use the extended constitutional powers with reasonable, sense of responsibility, but if the Labour Party wins and gains the extended powers, it might prove otherwise. The newspapers warn the electors that much greater importance is attached to the question than ie apparent on first sight. The Labour ranks are divided on the question of referendum, which previously was one of the strong Labour planks The fact of it being a Government measure is largely responsible for the present opposition of the Labour Party. MR. HUGHES' PROSPECTS. LABOUR PARTY AND RELIGION TfroM OTJR OWN correspondents.] SYDNEY. November 27. Old campaigners declare that they have never known such public apathy and indifference as are being displayed: in the present Feder?! election. The campaign ends on December 13, when there will be voting on three issues House of Representatives (for 75 members), the Senate (for 18 members—half the number in the Chamber), and the referendum on the question of granting additional powers to the Commonwealth Parliament. The state of parties in the House of Representatives was: Nationalists,. 49$ Farmers, 3; and Labour, Z*>. That means that Labour must hold all its present seats and win 15 more, before it can get a majority in the Chamber. The Farmers' Party is expected "to increase its numbers—but if it comes to a'' final choice, the farmers will support the Nationalists rather than put Labour into power. Nationalist Phalanx in Senate. 1 The position in th* Senate is curious. There are 25 Nationalists and 11 Labour men there. Senators are elected for six years, and half of them retire every three years. The 18 who retire on this occasion are thus labelled:—Nationalists, 7, and Labour, 11. That is to say, all the. Labour men in the Senate are now facing,.'.the electors, and even if Labour wins all the 18 seats now vacant, Labour will not have a majority in the Senate, 'it is plain, therefore, that if Labour wins a majority of seats in the House, and every seat irr the Senate, it will still have .diffi- : culty in exercising power, on account of the solid Nationalist phalanx in the Senate. A victory for Labour in this election "is not expected, however. The Nationalists will lose some seats, but even if they lose their present majority they may expect to be kept in power with the help of the farmers. Mr. Hughes is meeting cordiality and general support all over the country; the soldiers are definitely "with him. The people generally appear to trust him, as the only man who gives an promise of capacity to lead the countrythrough its post-war troubles. He has his distinct limitation, but, with Mr. Watt .->. sick man, he is the only statesman in sight. The Nationalist Party is not trusted by the public, and, without the help of Mr. Hughes, it had no hope of success.--'- If the present party is returned to power, it will be a victory for Mr. Hughes. and not for the Nationalists. Any person - acquainted with public opinion here will say that, positively and definitely. "'"' '.' - Questions for Referendum. It can also be definitely said that the advent of Mr. Ryan as the Labour leader has had an extraordinary effect in" consolidating all the anti-Catholic votes in the anti-Labour camp. Mr. Ryan is definitely identified with the powerful forces behind the Roman Catholic Church as represented by Dr. Mannix, and this 'fact has, driven the non-Catholic elements out of the Labour Party to an extent that the Labour leaders are now beginning to realise. * The referendum questions are quite simple. The electors are asked whether or not they approve of two Bills which were passed through Parliament last October, and they have simnly to indicate Yes or "No." The first Bill gives the Commonwealth powers to legislate in regard to commercial activities and industrial, affairs. It has not that power now, and therefore cannot deal with the hich cost of living or industrial unrest. The second gives the Commonwealth power to nationalise any service or industry which, after inquiry by the High Court,'is found ito be a monopoly. Certain State Governments are formally and officially opposed to the granting of the powers, but there is no organised opposition to them, and the proposals are likely to receive the authority wanted—a majority of votes in a majority of the State?, and the total votes in favour throughout Australia to be an absolute majority of all the votes cast.