CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 58, 1 December 1917, Page 10

CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

.BECLOUDED; BY* SECTARIANISM

FIGHT WAXING WARM

Sydney, November 30. Unfortunately, cross-currents of sec- . tarianism axe' .becoming an increasing in the conscription campaign, and are causing much heart-burning and beclouding the' main issue. Throughout the-' Commomvealth both parties have now their full forces in the' field,' T afld: ; :the::fight .waxes warmer '.'as it proceeds:, 1 ;, '•',".'. '."'.A',;noticeable.' feature .is the lack of 'the ''■ leaflets ;-.-n;itb'; the eleotors were'inundated-at'the'last referendum. Meantime voluntary recruiting proceeds steadily.—Press Assn. ALL SOLDIERS TO HAVE A VOTE ■ IF A PROCEDURE DIFFICULTY CAN BE OVERCOME. (Rec. November 30, 11.35 p.m.) . Sydney, November 30. 'An argument receiving much support during the conscription campaign is that if soldiers under 21 years are 'old enough, to fight, they are old enough to'have a r.ote''. Mr: Hughes now announces that if the difficulty with regard to'voting procedure can be overcome all persons bearing arms will b6 allowed to vote.-—Press Association.. ' MEMBER OF FEDERAL HOUSE TO BE PROSECUTED ON CHARGE OF MAKING FALSE .STATEMENT. .Sydney, November '30. In his speech at Toowoomba, Mr. Hughes referred to a statement al-' legedly made iy Mr. Finlayson, a member of tho Federal House, that a cable message received from General Birdwood by the Government, urging the need'.for reinforcements, bad been inspired for the purposes of the campaign. Mr.; Hughes denied that'the cablegram was inspired, ant) announced that under a regulation of the War Precautions Act, which made it nn offence to make falso statements, he had given instructions for the prosecution of Mr. Finlayson.—Press Assn.

V AFFECTING ELECTORS' JUDGMENT ■■>' ANOTHER ALLEGED FALSE ; : -y'-.-: -STATEMENT:" '■" (Rec.. December 1,'1.40 a.m.); Sydney, November 30. Mr J. A. Catts was charged to-day with making at a public meeting a verbally false statement likely to affect th* judgment of electors in relation to their votes on tho conscription referendum.. The statement complained oi was that a Sixth Division had been created, so that General Birdwood could get the higher rank and the pay attached to the position of a com- 1 mander of six divisions. Catts pleaded riot guilty. The evidence tendered .showed that no Sixth Division existed. Mr Catts gave evidence and said that tho statement was made at a meeting in the country. .When:he left for the country tour the new regulation undei which the case was taken did not exist, and he was not aware that the regulation' had been passed when he mad 6 the'statement.'.: ..He. was under'the belief that'a Sixth Division existed, ano. produced .statements •■ from various sources in support of this belief .- The case was/dismissed, the-'Magis-trate holding that Mr. Catts believed the statements to he'true when he made them.—Press Assn.' •

RIOTOUS SCENES IN : QUEENSLAND MR. HUGHES ASSAULTED AND HUSTLED.- "■"■['"' Brisbaho, Novemher 30. v. The high feeling which is being displayed :over tho inscription issue culminated in riotous .scenes at Warwick "(80 miles south-west of Brisbane), •when Mr. W. M. Hughes arrived to address a Eggs wore thrown and a free fight ensued. Mr. Hughes was assaulted and hustled. ! It is alleged that the •police ignored l his request's to arrest the ringleaders, stating that., they only .recognised Queensland laws and would! act on no other. The demonstration. only subsided when Mr. Hughes departed by train.—Press Assn. . ,