CONSCRIPTION IN AUSTRALIA.

Waikato Times, Volume 87, Issue 13292, 22 September 1916, Page 5

CONSCRIPTION IN AUSTRALIA.

REFERENDUM BILL. AN AMENDMENT DEFEATED. Received September 21, 11.20 p.m. MELBOURNE, Sept. 21. In the House of Representatives the Referendum debate was continued. Mr G. M. Burns, member for Illawarra, moved an amendment that conscription is inadvisable. He said if the Government proposals were carried out they would be destructive of the best interests of Australia. Hon. W. A. Archibald, member for Hindmarsli, supporting Mr Hughes, said their enemies were not the Germans* but men who got German gold. He suggested the deportation of members of the I.W'.YY.

Mr F. Anstey in denouncing the measure, said that there seemed to be an organised determination to draw out of the country the whole of its manhood. He claimed that the number of men asked for weekly were utterly disproportionate to the weekly casualties. He concluded: -They are going to draw up immense forces fatbeyond the requirements, stretch out their lines and increase the slaughter." The amendment was negatived by 49 to 12. HOUSE SITS ALL NIGHT. REFERENDUM BILL PASSED. (United Press Association). „ Received September 21,10.10 p.m. MELBOURNE, September 21. The House of Representatives, after an all-night sitting, read the Referendum Bill a third time. An amendment was accepted, permitting naturalised enemy subjects with sons serving in the Australian forces to vote. CAMPAIGN OPENED. MR. HUGHES' STIRRING APPEAL. FRANCE ASKED TO DO TOO MUCH. GERMAN SPIES AT WORK. PLENTY OF MONEY AVAILABLE. Received September 22", 11.10 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 22. In the Senate, Senator M. A. Ferxicks (Queensland) drew attention to the censorship. He said it brought home to the people the extent to which despotism could go in a free country. Telegrams between Labour officials were never delivered, and even telephone messages tapped. Unless the conscription campaign was conducted on fair lines he feared for the peace of Australia. Senator Pearce, Minister for Defence, said it was necessary to combat German spies. He knew that German money was s vailable here, and had already been .irctdated. Ho held up a circular is6ue<; this year from Berlin to their press igents here advising them how to sway public opinion, and defeat the effect uf the resolutions of the Paris economic The Government ;ow had these men safe in a certain place. The Referendum Bill was read a first time 1 y 21 to 9. At liie opening of the referendum campaign, Mr Hughes made a stirring appeal', atnd was enthusiastically r<v ceived. He said he believed that the war would end in June or July next. One reason why we were asked to do out share was that France had been asked to do too much. If Australia had done one-tenth what France had done the country would be a cemetery.

TO DISCUSS CONSCRIPTION. STOP WORK MEETINGS CALLED. Received Sontember 22, 11.10 a.m. SYDNEY, September 22. The Labour Council has resolved to tall a stop work meeting of all workers to discuss con seer iption.