D0188: Australian Gallup Poll, August 11, 1961
POLLING ORGANISATION Roy Morgan Research Centre SURVEY METHOD Each weekend, 110 trained interviewers were sent to different but randomly- selected "cluster points" spread in proportion to population over cities and country areas throughout Australia excluding the ACT and the Northern Territory. Interviewers were instructed to commence interviewing at the dwelling adjacent to, and at the right of, the random start and to interview one individual there and, moving in a clockwise fashion around the block, in each adjacent dwelling until a cluster of 10 individuals was interviewed. Interviews were conducted during daylight hours, on Saturdays and Sundays when most people were at home. Each weekend, an Australia-wide cross-section of about 2,200 different adults aged 21 years and over from 110 districts were therefore interviewed. This poll is based on 1,680 interviews conducted in August 1961. BACKGROUND VARIABLES age / sex / economic classification / occupation / location / vote at last Federal election / voting intention / car ownership / telephone subscriber / political complexion / sex of interviewer / respondent status / WEIGHTING The responses are unweighted. A weighting variable (WEIGHT) is included in the data file to indicate the interviewer workloads selected for duplication. THEMES - NAMES AND RESPONSES 1. The first question is about the proposal to change our currency from pounds,shillings and pence to decimal currency, with everything in tens, like francs and dollars. Do you think we should change to a decimal currency as quickly as possible - or perhaps 10 years - or are you against changing? Category label Code Count Percent AGAINST 9 480 28.6 NO OPINION 10 178 10.6 ABOUT 10 YEARS 11 299 17.8 QUICKLY 12 722 43.0 MISSING 13 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 2a. The next question is about the basic wage. Recently the Commonwealth Arbitration Commission decided to adjust the basic wage once a year, according to the cost of living. Do you agree, or disagree, with that decision? Category label Code Count Percent AGREE 4 1084 64.5 DISAGREE 5 462 27.5 NO OPINION 6 133 7.9 MISSING 7 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 2b. The Arbitration Commission has NOT restored automatic adjustment of wages with the cost of living. Instead it will make an adjustment each year, unless an opposing party shows that should not be done. Do you agree with that - or should the annual adjustments be automatic, with the cost of living? Category label Code Count Percent AGREE 7 475 28.3 AUTOMATIC 8 958 57.0 NO OPINION 9 228 13.6 MISSING 10 19 1.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 3a. Last November the Federal Government introduced some economic measures, including credit restrictions. Do you feel the Government did the right thing, or not, introducing those credit restrictions? Category label Code Count Percent NO OPINION 10 202 12.0 NO 11 655 39.0 YES RIGHT 12 823 49.0 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 3b. Have you (or your husband) been affected much by the credit squeeze? Category label Code Count Percent YES 1 383 22.8 NO 2 1244 74.0 MISSING 3 53 3.2 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 3d. Have you suffered a lot or only a little? Category label Code Count Percent LOT 4 139 8.3 LITTLE 5 234 13.9 NOT ASKED 6 1297 77.2 MISSING 7 10 .6 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 4. Next about senior public servants, who are expected to carry out the policy decisions of the Government of the day. Do you think these senior public servants should or should not be allowed to criticise publicly any Government policy they disapprove? Category label Code Count Percent ALLOW 7 1065 63.4 DONT ALLOW 8 461 27.4 NO OPINION 9 153 9.1 MISSING 10 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 5a. And a question about using breath analysers to test for drunkenness. If a trained policeman makes a breath analysis of a cab driver who's suspected of being drunk, do you think the result of the test should - or should not, be allowed as evidence in Court? Category label Code Count Percent UNDECIDED 10 178 10.6 SHOULDNT 11 693 41.3 YES SHOULD 12 808 48.1 MISSING 13 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 5b. Do you think 'breath-alyser' tests for motorists suspected of being drunk should be voluntary or compulsory? Category label Code Count Percent VOLUNTARY 1 602 35.8 COMPULSORY 2 917 54.6 UNDECIDED 3 131 7.8 MISSING 4 30 1.8 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 6a. Next, about Federal election prospects. If a Federal election were being held today, which party do you think you'd probably vote for? IF LABOR: Would it be ALP or (DLP) (QLP)? Category label Code Count Percent LIBERAL CP 4 751 44.7 ALP 5 641 38.2 DLP 6 54 3.2 COMMUNIST 7 1 .1 INDEPENDENT 8 10 .6 UNDECIDED 9 223 13.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 6b. Do you usually vote for that party? Category label Code Count Percent NO 11 142 8.5 YES 12 1288 76.7 MISSING 13 250 14.9 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 6c. Is there any chance you'll vote for any other party, at the Federal election in December? Category label Code Count Percent YES 0 157 9.3 NO 1 1262 75.1 MISSING 2 261 15.5 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 6d. IF YES: Which party might you then vote for? Category label Code Count Percent LIBERAL CP 4 27 1.6 ALP 5 50 3.0 DLP 6 17 1.0 COMMUNIST 7 1 .1 INDEPENDENT 8 5 .3 UNDECIDED 9 55 3.3 NOT ASKED 10 1525 90.8 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 7. And a question about the Labor Party's policy of nationalisation. The Australian Labor Party favors the Government taking over and running any big business, which it considers is not being run in the best interests of the public. Do you favor or oppose doing that? Category label Code Count Percent NO OPINION 10 184 11.0 OPPOSE 11 1042 62.0 FAVOR 12 453 27.0 MISSING 13 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 8. The next question is about Japan wanting to buy from Australia as much coal and iron as possible, to help increase Japanese steel production. Do you think we should sell Japan all the coal and iron ore we can or only a limited amount or none at all? Category label Code Count Percent ALL WE CAN 1 823 49.0 LIMITED 2 663 39.5 NONE 3 126 7.5 NO OPINION 4 67 4.0 MISSING 5 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 9. And a question about Australia letting 12 European nations, including Britain, use the Woomera rocket range for space tests. These 12 nations will provide 70 million pounds for expenses, and Australia will provide the range, with its present equipment. Do you approve or disapprove that arrangement? Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 7 1154 68.7 DISAPPROVE 8 311 18.5 NO OPINION 9 213 12.7 MISSING 10 2 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 10a. This question's about Britain and the European Common Market. Have you yet formed an opinion on whether or not Britain should join the Common Market? Category label Code Count Percent NO 11 844 50.2 YES 12 831 49.5 MISSING 13 5 .3 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 10b. If YES: Do you think Britain should, or should not, join the European Common Market? Category label Code Count Percent SHOULD 1 584 34.8 SHOULDNT 2 164 9.8 UNDECIDED 3 77 4.6 NOT ASKED 4 849 50.5 MISSING 5 6 .4 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 11a. Have you read or heard about Russia wanting the British, American and French forces to leave West Berlin, which would then become a free city, surrounded by East Germany? Category label Code Count Percent YES HEARD 4 1519 90.4 NO 5 159 9.5 MISSING 6 2 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0 11b. If Russia insists we leave, and surrounds West Berlin with armed forces, should we leave Berlin - or fight to stay? Category label Code Count Percent LEAVE 7 250 14.9 FIGHT 8 1049 62.4 NO OPINION 9 363 21.6 MISSING 10 18 1.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1680 100.0
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