DOMINIONS AND THE WAR

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13657, 28 August 1916, Page 3

DOMINIONS AND THE WAR

CONSCRIPTION ISSUE IN

AUSTRALIA.

LONDON TIMES COMMENT,

("The Tillies" Service,)

■ LONHO-V, August 25. ,■ The Time's, in a lender dealing with Ihe subject whether .Australia will r'esort, to conscription says: '"Onlv Australians ca,n declare whether if wi'll be necessary, British advice would be impertinent and not reiju'ired. Australia lias. grandly■ established her • right.. to : settle the t'piestirtn for herself.' 'New' Zealand's case does not apply to Australia, because voluntaryism lias not. sufficed to fill np the promised' New. Zealand contingents, \vliilt> Australia throughout lias had as many volunteers as she is able to 'equip'even' with such help as the British War Office has been able to give.''. | '

. ' ~ ELEGI'IiNE, 'August 25..,: • Speaking at St. .Ivilda, ..Ali'.„,loseph Cook (Leader of .the Federal; ' affirmed tlie.readiness of the. Libera! Party to follow, Mr,' Hiighcsliu.'any'af • tion he may t«ke to • ma he' the. best use of the united forces of the.Commonwealth. ' . i , . '" ' ' 'i . .MR ALLEN'S'STATEMENT. I ' NOT A SINGLE MAN CONSCRIPTED:. (l'cr Press. Association.) WELLINGTON, August 27,. . The Hon. James •.■Allen, commenting on the Loudon Times reference to coif scription in New Zealand, said lie looked, upon the article as designed forpoliti<a] purposes.-. New Zealand ..had -not conscripted a single man. Four reinforcement drafts were, in camp, under training, and two more were fully ready to be called np—all under the voluntary system. New Zealand was thus fully able to meet all obligations, in maintaining the strength, of the forces oversea. It was'ridiculous'to--suggest that New Zealand was not. doing as,well under the, voluntary system., as any .other part of the Empire, Mr Allen also pointed out, that while New Zealand had been thus meeting the Imperial, oblio-a----i tions in the matter of men,, the territorial system of training had been kept going fully and efficiently.

ALIENS IN FEDERAL POLITICS,

NATIVE OF GERMANY AND THE CAUCUS

MELBOURNE, August 25,' In connection with Mr Danlcel, a South Australian member, and a native of Germany, attending the Federal' caucus, the Melbourne Argus drew attention to tlio possibility of his voting upon questions deciding the war policy, of the 'Commonwealth, and added; "Though no suggestion is made regard' ing his loyalty, there could not be' ,i doubt as to Ihe impropriety of Mr Dankel speaking and voting upon measures for the prosecution of the war against his native countnv' ' ' ■ " '

The caucus resolved to'adopt the Ex': ecntive V recommendation ,|.o admit Mf Dankel, and invitee! him.jo attend. ; FEDERAL CABINET MEETINGS.''' IMPORTAXT DECISION REPORTED, Received August-27,5,5-p.m. MELBOURNE, •August. 2fi, ~ ■The Federal Cabinet and. Caucus held protracted meetings yesterday, discussing defence matters, ' ,' : Questioned whether a decision had been reached i,n.i;egard,to .conscription. Mr Hughe's replied: Yes. Asked if he w.ould say what it w.<s, he replied: Ccrianly not. Other Ministers.are similarly reticent.

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR'S DILEMMA

CONSCRIPTION CONTROVERSY.!

Received August. 27, midnight MELBOURNE, August 27. '■ The caucus sat until eleven, o'clock on Saturday night, discussing the Government's military proposals, without reaching a decision, The caucus adjourned until Mondav afternoon,

; No official-■ informal ion is obtainable. An unofficial rumour .states that, the caucus has been asked to sanction 'a compromise, Probably no official announcement will be made until the session, opens on Wednesday.