MR. WEBSTER'S WARNING.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3276, 26 June 1917, Page 4

MR. WEBSTER'S WARNING.

AUSTRALIA MUST NOT QUIT

Tho Postmaster-General of the Cora monwealth (Mr. "Webster), who wa: tlie principal speaker of an open-air recruiting meeting outside the Melbourne Town Hall recently, declared that if the volunteers required were not secured they must appeal to the people to adopt Conscription. The only .alternative was disgrace. Australia, he said, would not be allowed to quit. (Loud cheers). .He was in favor of Conscription. (Renewed cheers) It was the only equitable method of meeting our obligations. (Prolonged cheers). In 'his own electorate there were some people handicapped by the absence of their menfolk at the front, struggling, striving, and barely succeeding in making a living; but there were others, altogether neglectful of the war, who wero prospering all the more through the hardships of their neighbours. That was not just. It was hot right. As a Democrat, he was going to respect tho voice of the people. He did not want it to be necessary to make another appeal to the people. He intended to do all in his power to induce the men to come forward and volunteer. If they got volunteers there would bo no Conscription, further appeal to the people; but should the numbers grow less and less, should Australia be found dead to her obligations and her duty, and fail the boys at the front, he would not forget them, and he would bo willing to give his support to Conscription. He hoped they would make one more gallant effort to prove that voluntaryism was successful, and thus prevent the need for Conscription.

Mr Webster foreshadowed a great burden of taxation in the future. Few people, he said, reali&ed what the next 12 months had in store. God help Australia if the submarine menace were not dispelled before another year passed. People who had 7101 yet realised the real meaning of thr nresent war would do so before an •■•flier three or four years were over. Ho knew of things of which he could not speak. . The price of war would have to bf met. then, when it was v>ni. Many thousands of people in this country who now seemed" indifferent would before long fully realise Mio meaning and the priVo to be paid r or tbe grent fight for liberty which "•ns mow raping. Tho longer the war lasted the more they would have ony. Tt therefore behoved them al' *o put forward their full strength ir> tn effort to bring tbe conflict to ar "■nrTy and successful conclusion 'Loud cheers.)