RECRUITING IN AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 21, 24 July 1918, Page 8

RECRUITING IN AUSTRALIA

AND A STATE LABOUR PARTY.

(FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

SYDNEY, 17th July.

There has been nothing in the whole history of the association of organised Labour with the war more contemptible than the present attitude of the State Labour Party' towards recruiting.

Last week, in. accordance with the promise given a considerable time ago, the State Parliament adjourned in order that all the members might join together in a vigorous recruiting campaign. Then the State Labour members announced,- in a peeved sort of way, that they would not meet the men of the National Party on any platform, recruiting or otherwise. It appears that they have a, whole host of grievances that nobody can clearly understand, but the burden of which seems to be that the whole body of Nationalist politicians are the corrupt tools of the capitalist, and must be excommunicated, or smothered, or something, before Australia can turn to the less important business of doing her share in the war. For many months now, the authorities have tried by all means to get the Labour men to assist with recruiting. Conscription was twice refused, under the Labour slogan of " Voluntaryism only." Then the Nationalists said: "Very well, we'll stick to voluntaryism. Come on in and help." But Labour was very shy, and suggested a whole array of conditions. The Government was still persuasive, and the matter was discussed at a conference, at which the price of Labour's co-opera-tion in recruiting was definitely fixed. •The Government did its part-^and still the Labour men hung back, and argued about it. Finally, they have taken up the definite attitude, so far as this State 1 is concerned, that they will do nothing to help recruiting. Instead, they have thrown in their lot with the I.W.W. agitators, and the energy which might have gone in getting reinforcements for the Australian army in the field they are devoting to a howl for the retrial of the I.W.W. fire-bug criminals.'

It is this sort of thing that makes Australia so misjudged ;outside. Ninety per cent, of the people are perfectly loyal, eager to assist recruiting, and contemptuously hostile to the I.W.W. and all its activities; yet the other 10 per cent., largely consisting of agitators whom they permit to represent them in public life, succeed by their clamour in misrepresenting Australia.