20 JANUARY 1917, Page 15

THE AUSTRALIAN REFERENDUM.

(To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."' Snr,—The following extract from the letter of a young Australian lady, a Roman Catholic of Irish descent but Colonial born, may be of interest :— " Here things have been exceedingly mixed lately, and I am sorry to say that New South Wales disgraced us all by voting No for the referendum. I don't know what we shall do now." Another letter from her father, a Member of the Legislative Council, begins :- "Almost ashamed to write to anyone in England after the vote given on the 28th October. However, we can but deplore it."

It is therefore apparent that not all Irishmen and not all Roman Catholics were against conscription.—I am, Sir, &c., HERBERT PECK.