THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1917. AUSTRALIA AND CONSCRIPTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17157, 9 November 1917, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1917. AUSTRALIA AND CONSCRIPTION.

It is now definitely stated that a second referendum on tlio conscription issue Is to be taken in Australia, and that the polling day has been fixed for December 22. The poll will, according to the Prime Minister, be taken on a definite scheme, of which the particulars will be disclosed next week. It is highly probable that a Bill providing for compulsory military service abroad would, if introduced into the Federal Parliament, be passed without much difficulty, for the Government commands a large majority in both Houses, and some disappointment is expressed in Australia over the fact that the Government is not preparing to introduce conscription by this method. Mr Hughes is, however, bound by the pledges wMch he gave at the last general election to respect legislatively the decision of the electors at the last referendum. This pledge was associated with the declaration by Mr Hughes that "if national safety demands it the question will again be referred to the people." It is in these circumstances, therefore, that the issue is to be remitted to tho electors for a fresh vote, the authority for holding the referendum being furnished by the War Precautions Act. Doubtless the Government will point to the chaotic state of affairs in Russia and to the invasion of Italy by the Central Powers as constituting conditions which bring the decision to take a second referendum within the scope of the pre-election undertaking on the part of the Prime Minister. The Argus puts the position bluntly enough when it said recently that "the safety of Australia will unquestionably be endangered if Germany conquers Italy and retains the control of the Adriatic and possibly of the Mediterranean." If it be conoeded, as wo think it must be, that no shadow of a Governmental pledge precludes a second referendum, there can be no question as to the desirability of a reversal of the previous decision. The interval that has elapsed since the adverse vote was cast about twelve months ago has illustrated most lamentably the utter collapse of the voluntary system. Early in the course of the war, in view of the heavy casualties, the Imperial authorities asked Australia to provide reinforcements at tho rate of 16,000 per month. This was a needlessly high requisition, and the extent of the quota, was subsequently reduced to 7000 per month. Under the voluntary system the highest number of enlistments in any single month was 6000; and in September this had fallen to 3083, or less than half the number deemed necessary by the British authorities to keep the Australian forces up to, full strength. If there is to be no reversal of the previous decision on the question of compulsory service, the inevitable outcome must be the disappearance of the Australians as a separate unit—in itself a pitiful reflection on the splendid record and magnificent heroism of the Australian section of the renowned Anzacs.

It may be remembered that at the referendum last year the proposal to. introduce conscription v s defeated by 72,476 votes in a poll of 2,247,580 electors —a votirg strength of close upon 83 per cent, of the names on the roll. The main strength of the opposition emanated from New South Wales, where over 472,000 electors voted against conscription, representing an adverse majority of more titan 116 7 000 votes in

that Stat®. It was New South Wales, in fact, that defeated the proposal. It may be regarded as doubtful whother a sufficient number of the electors in that State, smarting as most of the former opponents of compulsory service are under their political and industrial rebuffs of the past twelve months, will reverse their votes and so provide a favourable result of tho referendum next month. Yet, one of our Australian contemporaries considers there are sound reasons for believing that another poll would reveal a considerable revulsion of feeling in the States which were previously against conscription. One thing is certain—namely, that, if Australia is to continue to perform her part in the war and to maintain a supply of trained men sufficient to keep her forces at an adequate strength during the grim operations of nest spring in Europe, there is no timo to he lost. It is sincerely to be hoped that the seriousness of the war outlook will evoke a truly patriotic response. The disasters in Italy and the military breakdown in Russia will not be without their helpful side if these untoward, events induce the people of Australia to recognise that their responsibility in regard to the war imposes on them a duty to resort even to compulsion in order to preserve their forces at their full strength.