UPROAR AT CANBERRA

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 43, 14 November 1941, Page 7

UPROAR AT CANBERRA

Conscription Advocates

NEW ZEALAND’S EXAMPLE

CANBERRA, November 13. During the Budget debate in the House of Representatives, three Opposition members, Messrs. Rankin, Bell, and Harrison, advocated conscription, and said that more vigorous action would be necessary if Australia was to have a full war effort. Mr. Rankin, who holds the rank of major-general in the Australian Military Force, said the Australian home forces were still ill equipped. The A.I.F. had first claim on the output of Australian war supplies, but after the wants of the A.I.F. had been filled, those of the Australian and New Zealand home forces should be considered before the claims of any other country. Conscription of all available manpower was advocated by Mr. Rankin, who said: “Only by the conscription of every man and everything throughout the country can we ever get a decent war effort.” Mr. Bell said every man who desired to serve with the forces, no matter what his occupation, should be allowed to go to the war. About one-third of the call-up of universal trainees for the militia had been exempted. The list of reserved occupations was too big. There was an uproar from the Government benches when Mr. Harrison said: “If this Government is prepared to bring in compulsory service and is prepared to face up to the same obligations as the New Zealand Government, it will get the results."