COMMONWEALTH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144860, 11 December 1915, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH.

MR. HUGHES SHOWS GRIT. ON THE RECRUJTJNG QUESTION. (Received Doc. 11, S.o a.m.) BRISBANE, Dec. 11. -Mr. Hughes, replying to tlie Industrial Council’s demand for the withdrawal of tlio recruiting scheme, said he resented strongly anything in the shape of a threat. Ho feared they did not realise Hie gra city of the issues at stake. They spoke as if there was some means of preserving their liberty by an attitude of indifference anti aloofness, as if there were no war. Hr. Fisher had pledged the party to support the Umpire to the last man and last shilling. They had been elected to power on that policy, and lie was going to firry it out. , After some further straight talk, Mr. Hughes said lie could not understand taking action at present for conscription. .No conscription could be introduced without Parliament being given the opportunity of stating its opinion. Information in possession of the Government fully warranted the steps taken.

FARMS HOB RETURNED S£7,DIERS (Received Dev. 11. 0,00‘a.m.) SYDNEY. Doc. 11. Mr. Ashford states that throe thousand farms, oi which a thousand are reserved for returned soldiers, will ho made available in 1910. LABOUR OBJECTIONS TO COMPULSION. (Received Doe. 11. 9.50 a.m.) ADELAIDE, Dee. 11. The Council of the United Labour Party has decided to advocate the compulsory gathering of wealth in conjunction with compulsory personal service, but will oppose compulsory personal service without that of wealth. AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES. (Received Dee. 11. .0.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dee. iJ. Casualty list 1-2 is as follows:-7-111,' Drivej* I*. J. Cox and .Private _A. R. Treacher; in hospital at Heliopolis. Private A. keileh ; in hospital in .Loudon. Private Levin. It is now stated that R. H. P. Hogan and C, d. Brown are in hospital at Malta; returned to duty. * Privates J. Hoar and A. J. Uiggs. ■STRIKE OE ENGINEERS. HINDERING MUNITION WORKi (Received Dee. 11, 9.10 a.m.) SYDNEY. Dee. 11. There is a strike of engineers at the Broken Hill Proprietary steel works at Newcastle which is holding up shellmaking. The blacksmiths lire supporting the strike. The secretary of the Blacksmiths’. Union, having failed to induce the men to obey the executive's order to resume work, declares that, unless there is some influence similar lo that which is at work in American factories, he cannot understand these strikes, Th> men arc fighting a better battle for the Germans than for unionism. MILITARY CANTEENS. (Received Dec. 11. 9.10 a.m.) MELBOURNE. Doe. 11. ' The military authorities have decided to extend the dry canteen system liy establishing its own canteens in Egypt and at the front, if possible. 1,