CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 30 April 1942, Page 5

CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

PLEBISCITE IN CANADA Ottawa. April 28. In the manpower plebiscite, asking Canadians to release the Government from its pledge not to conscript men for foreign service, there was a national vote of C2 per cent, for the Government's proposal. The latest figures are:—Yes, 2,724.653; no. 1.486.771. There are still many returns to come ■ in, including the votes of the Fighting Services, which will not be announced for a fortnight. Nearly a million negative votes were cast in Quebec Province, which is heavily-populated with French Canadians. Most of the remaining halfmillion noes were registered in Frenchspeaking areas throughout the nation. GOVERNMENT'S HANDS FREED The Conservative Leader of the Canadian House of Commons, Mr Hanson, to-day said: “The Canadian people yes- , terday spoke emphatically. Now there is no stumbling block, real or imaginary, to total war. The hour has struck when every human and material resource must be mobilised for war . sei vice. Parliament is now free to act. Let us act, and now I urge the Prime Minister to rise to the occasion now and he will strike a great blow for victory. Mr MacKenzie King said it would be better to postpone the discussion on the plebiscite till the official returns were complete. Any steps taken, as a result of the plebiscite would be of great importance and would be announced in due course.—P.A.