INTEREST GROWS

Southland Times, Issue 19966, 4 September 1926, Page 7

INTEREST GROWS

FEDERAL CONSTITUTION

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

REFERENDUM IN AUSTRALIA. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, September 3. As the final stages of the referenda campaign are closing, public interest, which previously was apathetic, is gaining force, both the Labour and Government parties vigorously prosecuted campaigns for and against throughout the Commonwealth. An anomalous position was created in New South Wales where both State and Federal Electoral Acts provide only for closing hotels during the holding of elections. The electoral officers decided that a referendum cannot be classed as an election and therefore hotels will remain open. Broadly speaking there are two proposals for amendments to the constitution before the electors—first, asking that more power shall be given to the Federal Government with the object of securing efficient control over trusts, combines and trades unions and other industrial organisations in order to enable unionists to secure more control over their own organisations and particularly in times of industrial turmoil to enable them to take a secret ballot on the question of a strike. The second question before electors asks them to give the Federal Government what hitherto have been regarded as State rights and empower the Commonwealth Government in time of industrial stress to take whatever steps are necessary to maintain transport services. The latter action would only be necessary in the event of the State failing to maintain essential services as happened during the recent seamen’s strike. This was really the cause of the Federal Government seeking the additional powers asked for by Mr. Bruce’s party on the strength of the mandate given at the last Federal diction to deal with aliens and agitators but which is inoperative under the existing constitution. They are hopeful of carrying the proposals, while their opponents are relying on the fate of previous referenda for alterations of the constitution. A split in the Labour Party renders the position more obscure than it would otherwise be. The pretty general opinion appears to be that the electors have not taken the trouble to properly acquaint themselves with the intricacies of the issues involved and that the vote to a considerable extent would be an ignorant one on both sides. The prospects of carrying the proposals are not regarded as too bright. It will be some days before the result of the whole vote will be finalised.—A. and N.Z. PUZZLE FOR ELECTORS. A VARIETY OF INSTRUCTIONS. (Rec. 9.15 p.m.) Sydney, September 3. The puzzle the electors will have to solve to-morrow is illustrated by the advice given to voters by the various parties. The Federal Nationalists are asked to vote “yes” to both questions, the State Nationalists “no” to the first and “yes” to the second; the Federal Labourites "yes” to the first and “no” to the second, and the State Labourites “no” to both.—A. & N.Z.