COMPULSORY TRAINING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 November 1945, Page 3

COMPULSORY TRAINING

REJECTED BY LABOUR CONFERENCE HEATED DEBATE IN AUSTRALIA Melbourne, Nov. 29. The Labour Conference defence debate yesterday, at which a proposal to introduce compulsory training was rejected, was long and sometimes heated. Mr Walsh. Queensland Minister for Lands, favoured the compulsory system, pointing to Australia's peril in 1942, when invasion threatened. While against compulsion for overseas service. he favoured adequate defence for Australia Senator Cameron. Postmaster-Gen-eral. opposed compulsory training, and said its purpose was only to get an army at the cheapest rate. Australia wouid get all the men needed under the voluntary system. Mr Hanlon. Deputy Premier of Queensland, said he had never heard such humbug and nonsense as Senator Cameron’s reference to a cheap army. “Why should my children fight for Senator Cameron’s children if Senator Cameron's children are not prepared to fight for mine?” he asked Mr Beasley, M.P.. who was elected for Freemantle in Succession to the late Mr Curtin, and is the youngest member of the Federal Parliament, favoured the compulsory system and said the youth of Australia would be better employed in its spare time in compulsory training than in betting shops. The motion introducing compulsory training was rejected by 18 votes to 16.