AUSTRALIA AND CONSCRIPTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 25

AUSTRALIA AND CONSCRIPTION.

Txxtt CABINET CRISIS. Protracted Cabinet meetings are in progress discussing the situation arising out of" the defeat of the Conscription referendum, and the question of leadership. Sir John Forrest declined to accept the position. After a protracted discussion the Federal Nationalist party carried, by 63 votes to 2, a motion that expresses tho party's continued confidence in Mr Hughes, and con- • siders it in the best interests of tho coun- - try that Mr Hughes should retain the leadership of the party. Interviewed later, Mr Hughes was reticent, but said that all the meeting had done was to discuss the position, which remains just where the resolution leaves it. Sir John Forrest was absent when the motion was taken; but it is understood that he would have voted in its favour. A large section of the caucus is said to have strongly pressed Mr Hughes to resign and let another Ministry- bo formed from the National party, or alternatively to have Mr Tudor sent for. On the other hand, it is said the caucus refused to authorise the Government to resign. This throws on the Cabinet tho full responsibility for honouring Mr Hughes's Bendigo pledge. A meeting of the National party decided not to support any action that would hand over the reins of government to the Labour party. A motion that Mr Austin Chapman (NewSouth Wales) be entrusted wjth the formation of a Cabinet was overwhelmingly defeated. Long sittings of the Federal National party failed to reach finality, although it is still believed that Ministers intend to resign and reconstruct, the Cabinet, under the leadership of Mr Hughes. THE LATEST FIGURES. Th© latest referendum figures are: Yes 944.668 No L120J60 Majority for "No," 176.092.