CONSCRIPTION

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 112, 8 November 1917, Page 7

CONSCRIPTION

AUSTRALIAN CABINET'S • DECISION ANOTHER REFERENDUM TO BE TAKEN ; POLLING DAY IN DECEMBER. (DNITBD PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.) MELBOURNE, 7th November. The Cabinet is discussing the military situation. Ministerial opinion regarding conscription is divided. Some favour an early election, and others a second referendum. 3lr. Hughes declined to make a statement of the Government's attitude bsyond remarking that the Italian situation was the most serious since the Marne. Later. ■ The Cabinet has decided to take another referendum on the conscription' question. (Received November 8, 9.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Mr. Hughes stated that the referendum will not be taken on the lines of the last one, but upon a definite scheme, which will be outlined on next Monday. Parliament will not meet, as the referendum will be conducted under the: powers conferred by the War Precautions Act. The polling day will probably be the 15th December. [The voting at the referendum taken last year in Australia resulted :—For conscription 1,087,557, against 1,160,033. When the writs were returried a majority of 61,280 votes in favour of "No" was shown. Subsequently some 17,000 additional votes were counted, of which approximately 14,000 were "No" votes, and the "No" majority was increased "to 72,476. Prior to the voting much bitterness was shown by the contending factions. The success* of the opponents of conscription was largely due to the propaganda of the I.W.W. and Labourites.]