THE CONSCRIPTION ISSUE IN AUSTRALIA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1010, 13 November 1917, Page 4

THE CONSCRIPTION ISSUE IN AUSTRALIA.

The well-watered scheme ol conscription which the Federal Government, is placing; before the people ol Australia i.s more likely to ensure support for the proposal to introduce compulsory conscription, than a scheme ol univi rsal conscription, such a.s was proposed in connection with the Octolmr Referendum last year. But even in its attenuated condition the Political Labour Leagues propose to put up a strong fight against the conscription issue. Wisely, the I Federal Government has drawn some ol i their teeth bv eliminating, from the 1 electors to whom the appeal is to be (made all naturalised enemy aliens amt persons whose parents were horn in an enemy country. That, according u> returns compiled in connection "Rh tie *\\ar Census taken in 1915, removes something like 40.1100 German voters who would naturally record then voles against any proposal to send men to li"ht against their Fatherland. But a careful scrutiny will have to he maintained both in' the compilation ol the Hills and at the pulling booths, it Mich aim, subjects of the first ami second oeimraiioiis tiro to be kept Horn voting, and to ensure a clean voting roll and the proper exercise, oi the franchise by those entitled to vote, in view of the impersonation practised so extensively •W the former referendum. Sir W ilham Irvine, of Victoria and a leading member of the l-ederal Legislature, lias not hesitated all along to pme upon tho Government the necessity of introducing universal conscrip-tion,-and. at the General Election, held in Alav last, so strongly did he insist upon its urgency, that he made it the supreme issue with his constituents, telliim- them that he did not want then votesr and would rather they voted lor Ins opponent (an “oflxoial Labourite) i„ fact he told them to do so—d they disapproved of his stand_ in the matter. The triumphant majority he seemed was the best proof that the people he represented approved ol Ins courage, and helms rexrmined the practical Teadei of the oonscrip'tioniKt movement, in Australia until now. In an address he delivered at Melbourne, about a fortnight ago, Sir William Irvine held that it was a wrong time to ask the people to decide whether conscription should be introduced or not, believing that it was a matter the Government should decide, but, in view of ->.r Hughes pledge that compulsory service should not be brought in without the people being consulted, there was no nthei course open to the Government. the Universal Service League on the other hand suggests, as an easier way out of the diilicultv, that the House ol Representatives should lie dissolved, and an appeal mtido to the constituencies directly on the conscription issue, holding that"tho referendum by itself is a dangerous thing, and that the personal appeals of the members of the Government, and its supporters, would achieve more certain and favourable results, even if a few seats were lost to the Nationalists. Tho Political League Labourites would probably welcome this solution of the problem confronting them, on that score alone, because they might gain a seat or two, and they are i <|elite prepared to accept the risks such as they are. As it is they have opened their campaign against the National Government’s proposal by holding big meetings in the Sydney Domain to celebrate the anniversary of the defeat of the conscription referendum, and, although the gatherings were not up to their expectations, they certainly made a good show, and fittingly rejoiced o\er what was euphemistically termed “the most magnificent victory for justice and human freedom won by the combined democratic forces of the Commonwealth iu the defeat of conscription at the referendum on October 28. 19LG,” solemnly pledging themselves “to oppose, by every means within our power, any and every attempt which may be herealter made to fasten the curse of conscription upon the people of Australia.”