WAR SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 November 1941, Page 4

WAR SERVICE

CONSCRIPTION DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA ADVANCED BY OPPOSITION MEMBERS. UPROAR FROM GOVERNMENT BENCHES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, November 13. During the Budget debate in the House of Representatives, three Opposition members, Messrs Rankin, Bell, and Harrison, advocated conscription, and said that more vigorous action would be necessary if Australia was to have a full war effort. Mr Rankin, who holds the rank of major-general in the Australian Military Force, said the Australian home forces were still ill equipped. The A.I.F. had first claim on the output of Australian war supplies, but after the wants of the A.I.F. had been filled, those of the Australian and New Zealand home forces should be considered before the claims of any other country. Conscription of all available power was advocated by Mr Rankin, who said: “Only by the conscription of every man and everything throughout the country can we ever get a decent war effort.” Mr Bell said every man who desired to serve with the forces, no matter what his occupation, should be allowed to go to the war. About one-third of the call-up of universal trainees for the militia had been exempted. The list of reserved occupations was too big. There was an uproar from the Government benches when Mr Harrison said: “If this Government is prepared to bring in compulsory service and is prepared to face up to the same obligations as the New Zealand Government, it will get the results.” CANADA’S POLICY OVERSEAS SERVICE TO REMAIN VOLUNTARY. OTTAWA, November 12. Speaking in the House of Commons in answer to demands for conscription the Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, said: — “The Government accepts the principle of conscription in so far as it means a system of compulsory selective national sen-ice. This principle will be extended from time to time according to the needs of the moment, but I do not intend to take the responsibility of supporting a policy of conscription for overseas service which was rejected by the people at the 1 last General Election.”