It is depressing that the No vote on Aborigines was significant in places where the question was a real issue—in other words,in areas where there are Aborigines to resent and to be prejudiced about. The No vote was worst in the three States — Western Australia,South Australia and Queensland — that have been most criticised for their treatment of the remaining Aboriginal populations. More than 18 ½ per cent of Western Australians (in the Kalgoorlie electorate the figure rose to almost 29 per cent),more than 13 per cent of South Australians (the figure was 18.3 per cent in the country electorate of Grey) and more than 10 per cent of Queenslanders (it was 23 per cent in the northern electorate of Kennedy) voted No.

In New South Wales the position is only less worrying. In this State,166,070 people,or nearly 8 ½ per cent (which is nearly twice the D.L.P. vote here in the last Federal election) voted No. A proportion of these people,as in other States,no doubt voted No in the belief that the measures would not benefit the Aborigines. When the vote is examined,however,we see that it is heaviest in the country electorates where there are racial problems. In Cowper,for example,which includes Grafton,Coffs Harbour and Nambucca Heads,18 per cent voted No. What room for satisfaction is there in these figures? They show,indeed,how urgent it is for the Commonwealth to use its new powers,to help remove the economic and social deprivations of Aborigines which foster racial prejudice.