FEDERAL ELECTIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9621, 29 March 1917, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

MR HUGHES’ POLICY SPEECH CONSCRIPTION NOT TO BE FORCED. By Telesrapl.--.Pr6M Association—Copyrlsbt MELBOURNE, March 28. In delivering his policy speech at Bendigo, Mr W. M, Hughes said the Anzao \ T ote on the conscription refer* endum was 72,000 for and 58,000 against. The Government was forced to go to the country by the hitter and reckless hostility of the Senate. If returned, the Government would not force conscription on the people, hut if the national safety demanded it. the question will again be referred to the people. Referring to the wheat pool, lie said that to date there had been sold 6.100.000 tons. Of this, 2,014,000 tons had been sent overseas, and 3,185.000 tons sold'but not yet shipped. The Government had now extended the guarantee to 4s per bushel for the farmers’ 1918-19 crop. The repatriation scheme involved an expenditure of .£32.000,000,’ £22,000,000 of which it was proposed to raise by loans, the remainder by tax on incomes spread over a series of. ye-ars, ~. .The same facilities for land settlement would be given British and Australian soldiers. The Government intended to follow the example of Britain in regard to the importation of luxuries. _ILwiU give effect to a policy to enable it to keep the wealth of the country within the country and Empire. Mr Hughes concluded; Many ox our opponents are openly ■ hostile -■ to Britain, clamouring for a premawiro p„ace, caring nothing bur for them own selfish and narrow interests.