Empire Outposts.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 265, 25 October 1916, Page 5

Empire Outposts.

AUSTRALIA. CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM. FEDERAL TREASURER RESIGNS. Melbourne, Oct. 24. Mr. Higgs (Federal Treasurer), has decided to resign if conscription is carried owing to his strong objections thereto. PREMIER’S WARM OUTBURST. TALKS TO OBSTRUCTIONISTS. Sydney, Oct. 16. i Addressing an open-air gathering at Marrickville Park yesterday afternoon, Mr. W. A. Holman, Premier of N.S.W., was subjected to much heckling, and the crowd, at each moment he tried to give point jto an argument, would shout loud and reiterated “Noes.” He told them that all Australia asked leave to do was to maintain one hundred thousand men at the front —to make good the casualties that came to the ranks of the Australians taking part in the struggle between the forces of tyranny and right. A lesson of the" war was that a small force could turn the scale. He could not conceive that democratic Australia could ever be the first to. refuse the appeal of our gallant Allies, who had done so much for us, and who were continuing the life and death struggle against the military despotism of the Central Powers. Cculd the young manhood of Australia not realise the intolerable disgrace' that a “No” vote would bring to this young democracy 1 He hoped he would not live to have to blush for any such disgrace that Australia brought on herself in the exercise of one of her free institutions. i

A youth, speaking with a cigarette balanced on his moving lips: ’ow would you vote if you ’ad ter go 1 The Premier emphatically): 1 would vote “Yes.” (Loud jeers and derisive laughter.) He continued: “Men, can you not see this is a. matter in which Australia’s honour is at stake. Mr. Hughes and I and others of us have not chosen this path we are treading because we like it. It is a grave matter. Mr. Hughes could have kept quiet. He is not following this course for the fun of the thing. It is a question of our responsibility. (More jeeers and hoots.) What kind of men have we got here in . Marrickville 1 (Hoots.) Are those miserable specimens to whose minds nothing that is worthy can make appeal the hope of Australia ? God help our young democracy. (Uproar.) Those hoots and hat rowdyism are the only arsmments you possess. You curs’ It’s a shame to think that the fine men who volunteered will have to associate with you. (Hoots.) You disgrace y’our breed. You—you—(the speaker’s voice was drowned for a moment). Let us hope (he was heard to continue) that when compulsion does come in you will be

given the work you are best suited fcr—that you will be kept to do eleaning-up work in the back lines of the camp. This opposition comes from a section of you here. I know you. You are the- cowards who hunt in packs at public meetings, and encourage and support each other in disgraceful exhibitions which break up public meetings. At the bottom ot it all is pure blue funk that is making you do this. We all know that. It is not true Australian conduct. It is unmanly. You are cowards; do you hear? Cowards! This is simply help you are asked t.j give, for the time of the war to bi other-Australians who did understand their duty, and were not forced to it. President Lincoln—” A voice: Mind ! He was killed. The Premier : Killed ? Assassinated ! And the assassin was a member of the I.W.W. class. The Premier explained that this little outburst was all by way of parenthesis, but thereafter he received an uninterrunted hearing, the noisy section slinking off to a site upon which they were addressed by advocates of no-conscription. I.W.W. LXUENDIARY. BIG BLAZE IN SYDNEY. i AUSTRALIAN AND N? OAHIK ASSN j Sydney, Oct. 24. A big fire is raging in John Connell’s grocery warenOuse, Kent St. Tne indications are that it will be entirely gutted. (Received 25, 10.15 a.m.) Sydney, Oct. 25. The three top floors of Connell’s grocery warehouse have been gutted by fire. The police announce that they received a telephone; message stating that was caused by the I.W.W. The damage is not yet ascertainable. NOTES FROM VARIOUS STATES Crowded streets at Sydney gave an enthusiastic reception to a parade of bluejackets from three ships in harbour. The majority returned from active service.