Recruiting Referendum.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 6524, 26 December 1917, Page 3

Recruiting Referendum.

AUSTRALIA AND COMPULSORY SERVICE. RESULTS OF THE POLL. . THE EARI.IEH RETURNS. j HEAVY AGAINST CONSCRIPTION. Sydney, Dec. 21. The pellii- in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania shows ever 70,01)0 of a majority against conscription. THE t'J.iiST RETURNS. Sydney, Dec. 20. Polling closed without incident. The j latest available figures indicate a majority against the Government's proposals The returns were as folows :

".NO" MAJORITY INCREASING. Sydney, Dec. 21. The latest incomplete returns give a majority of EW.OHO against Conscription. The Slates figures are :

The result of the soldiers' vote at ihe front is not expected for several weeks. TIIJ'! XF.XT MOVK. SINGULATIONS AS TO GOVEKXMKXT'S IXTFNTIOXS. Sydney, Dec. 2.1. 'l'he lead against compulsion steadily im-reases. The totals now stand : Xo XiJU'l7 Yes i;y7,M!>

Majority for Xo 11i:.1,."i7'S The t„lal voles on the roll are 2,772,"is:.. While it is generally accepted thai- lk( is very little hope of the present position being reversed, the figures are not accepted as final. It is roughly estiinaled that WO.w.m soldier? and absentee ".oles are still uncounted, from which a big proportion of "Yes" votes is expected. Assuming that the reinforcements proposal is definitely defeated, speculation as to the Government's next ui is already rife. Although it is highly improbable that the Ministry will take action until after the holidays, there is a probability of a Federal election., bin neither .Mr Hughes nor any other 'Minister is prepared to make iinv comments.

State Yes. >ij. New South Wales .. 224,9(54 342,243 'Victoria «8,S12 71,20;) Tasmania 18,SI23 JS.176 (This message was kept in the Government ofliee, .Sydney, all night.)

Stsitc ¥Vs. X». N.'w Month Willi's .. 2L'4.!Mii :il2 ( L'4y Vii-toriii 2:1<>,4!U 2ol'02'2 liiici'iisliiiiil 0ii.7Sn 91,52!) Stmlh Auslniliii .. .IS,I.'>ti 77,280 Wi'slralm ■lll.ii.'Ji 22.-10:! Tasmania L'(i.(i2li "">,225