THE REFERENDA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10752, 27 April 1911, Page 4

THE REFERENDA.

A FEDERAL, VOTE. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Press Association".) Received April 26, at S.o'J p.m. Sydney, April L'G. The weather was iine for the referenda poll, and the booth.-, were crowd..! on opening, and again at the clo.-e. Voting proceeded steadily and ijuii-t----]y throughout the day. A large arm;. of canvassers wen- at Work mr hulh side-;. Motor cars ;;iid oilier vhieh-s were freely pre-.-e.l into .-er.'ieo. Women turn.-d out I- lr<-i-ly than nas expected. \'t>t it>-_r rea-'.-d ;,;. .-.even, but before that hour crou-K hegau to gather in the vicinity «.f ih.- newspaper offices. where tin- iviiini» weiv posted later.' Tin- streets m ihe vicinity were densely packed, and tie- excitement was running high a> the numbers for and against were mount, d. The ele-tors v..re ;,-!<.-d k, say ■•yes" or "no'" as to whether they desired — An alteration of the Constitution to give tiie Commonwealth •Government pnwer. firstly, to deal with the creation, di-<oiut'iou, and control of corporation*, including foreign corporations, als.u the regu- " hit ion of wages, conditions of labor, employment in any tntde. industry or calling, prevention ' itnd setilemeiit oi industrial v disputes, and power to deal with combinations and monopolies in relation to the production, manufacture, or supply of goods or service; And, secondly, . where Parliament has declared any industry or business to be a monopoly, whether Parliament shall give power' to make laws for the carrying on of such business under the control of tiie Commonwealth, aiid acquiring for, that purpose on just terms any property used in connection with

such industry or business. To; carry the referenda a majority of "yes" votes must he obtained in at least four out of the six States, also a majority of the whole votes polled. Received April 26, at 11.15 p.m. Sydney, April 26. The referenda returns are extremely slaw in.coming to hand. The early New South Wales and Victorian .figures snow a - majority for the . "noes" on both questions. . It is unlikely that anything fikV complete returns will" be available for some.days; even the decisive figures will/take a day or two to complete. Received April 27, at 0.12 a.m. London, April 26. The Times, commenting on the referenda, vote and the successive attempts of the States Legislatures to defeat the Commonwealth Government's proposed changes in indnstrial legislation that probably the great mass oi-iMe Australians Jvery earnestly desiro, declares that such a policy may succeed for a time, but can hardly have a long rnn, as it will oppose an effecttfal'barrier to the wishes of the people. Received April 27, at 0.50 a.m. Sydney, April 26.

The latest returns —all "far from complete—place the Noes in a strong lead m all the States on both issues. On the first question, relating to legislative powers, New South Wales recorded 54>017 votes in the affirmative and -'83,148 in the negative. On the second question, relating to monopolies, 49,364 peoplo voted "Yes" and 72,099 voted. '.'No." In;\ r ictoria 100,593 voted "Yes" and 138,955 voted "No" on the first question^.'and 48,325 people voted "Yes" and-/68,737 voted "No" on the second question. Received April 27, at 1.5 a.m. •'- ; '---' Sydney, April 20. On the first question 6153 people in Queensland voted in the affirmative and 10.928-in the negative. On the questions relating to monopolies 605-1 voted "Xesi!-.and 10.937 voted "No." Jn. South :Australia 3765 votes were ca&fliitthe affirmative and 4614 in the negative on the first question, and 985 people, voted "Yes" and 335 voted. *'sio" on the second.question. 'Jn Tasmania the voting on the first question was: 'Affirmative, I-1,0fi7; negative, 14,373. -No. returns have come to hand from Western Australia so far.

Received April 27, at 9.10 a.m. ; Sydney, April 27. Although the counting is incomplete, it 'appears. certain that both referenda votes; Trill- he negatived hy a big major-ity...i-Westralia. is the only State where tfce'*afEfciiiative is leading. There the returns, art present show "yes" majorities". r f6r- the legislative powers • of 168,913/ and for monopolies of 152,501. are the details: — ;■/ —First? Question. — ■■:■-'.-•- . .'. ;■ - Yes. No. New South Wales ... 94,921 155,054 Victoria ': 143,403 220,158 Queensland ... ... 35,258 48,288 SoutH: Australia ... 39,113 52,057 W&traKa .:. ... 11,612 10,381 Tasmairia ... ... 20,248 27,530 '- .. .. —Monopolies.— '.' Yes. No. New. Sonth Wales ... 83,848 138,903 Victoria ... ... 143,403 220,158 Queensland ... ... 26,889 34,555 South-Australia ... 32,122 39,124 Westralia ... ... Tasmania 19,763 26,030 Received April 27, at 9.35 a.m. ■■■•■■■ --: : Sydney, April 27. The Barrier, the strongest Labor district in. the State,: is the only place where "yes*' showed: ariioverwhelming majority. Th e voting was: "Yes," 6426;; "no," 991. - . North Sydney, a powerful Liberal constituency, is the strongest "no" centre/: the polling-being: "Yes," 3740; "no." 12,110. . The voting was comparatively light, and. to ascertain extent on party lilies, although manj* electorates-won by Labor with small..majorities..voted; "no."

; The Herald states, that commonseriseis put to.win steadily, though not hx-a-sensational fashion. : The. polling is disappointing, considering-the .-issues at stake. .It .would.have been more satisr factory, had a.higher, percentage voted, biitiit was evident that the problems werej'oo abstract for the average man.. Received April 27, at 11: a.m.- -..--_ -.-■ v Sydney, April 27. "■ Sir Hughes, in an Interview on the referenda, said it was too early to express an opinion, except that the polls were amazingly small. ■ .. vjifr Holman says it will now be neces-sary-to'. see what steps will be taken to -give the Federal Parliament the necessary additional powers. This can ba done in conformity with the Labor platform, whereas the referenda proposals were against that platform. The Liberal leaders express satisfaction.