CONTROL POLICY DEFEATED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20670, 8 March 1937, Page 9

CONTROL POLICY DEFEATED

AUSTRALIA’S VOTE ON

REFERENDA MARKETING FREEDOM RETAINED United Press Association—By fectxlc Telegraph - -Copyright (Received March 7, 6.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 7. The Commonwealth Aviation and Marketing proposals for alterations to the Federal Constitution to permit the Commonwealth to control the marketing of Australian produce and aviation suffered defeat at a Federal referendum poll yesterd-.y. The marketing proposa, was rejected in five States while early returns from Western Australia also favoured “No.” The aviation proposal secured a majority when the votes for all states were totalled, but secured a majority in only Victoria and Queensland. Majorities in two more States would be necessary to carry the proposal. To carry either of the proposals there must be a majority of people in a majority of States. Four States must vote “Yes,” and there must be a majority for “Yes” all over Australia. In Victoria the electorate of the Federal Attorney-General (Mr Menzies), one of the sponsors of the referendum, rejected the marketing proposals. An aviation majority in Warringah (New South Wales) is a personal triumph for the Minister of Defence (Sir Archdale Parkhill) who has sponsored the aviation reform sought in the proposal. BOTH PROPOSALS DEFEATED PRIME MINISTER EXPRESSES REGRET Doited Press Association—By Elecr.ru Telegraph— Copvriehr (Received March 8, 12.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 7. Counting continued to-night in the Federal referendum. The latest figures are: Aviation Yes 1,192,943 No 1,121,630 Marketing Yes 753,560 No 1,489,511 Prime Minister’s Comment Commenting on the referendum, the Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons), who is at Canberra, said: "I can only say that I feel the people have made a grave mistake, and that the interests of Australia as a whole will suffer. The Commonwealth Government and the States are now left powerless to deal with inter-State aspects of organised marketing. The apparent defeat of the aviation proposal can mean nothing but chaos.” WILD SCENE AT POLLING BOOTH DUE TO RUSH OF ELECTORS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 7, 11.45 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 7. Tables and chairs and a ballot box were overturned, ofliclal documents were scattered on the floor, and several hundred persons yelled and Jostled in a wild scene in a referendum polling booth at Collingwood, an industrial suburb of Melbourne, on Saturday night. The scene followed the actions of a number of men who were under the Influence of liquor. The presiding officer was unable to cope with the rush of electors and ho became exhausted. The crowd surged forward and upset a table. A general uproar followed, including many fights. The returning officer, after a fierce st.uggle, regained the ballot box and the polling proceeded.