MILITIA SERVICE

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21910, 14 December 1942, Page 3

MILITIA SERVICE

ATTITUDE OF LABOUR (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Special AustraiiMH correspondent) SYDNEY, Dec. 13. Overwhelming support for Mr Curtin in his home State of Western Australia makes the Federal Government confident that the Prime Minister’s proposal to extend liability for militia service throughout the Southr west Pacific will be carried by four States to two at the meeting of the Australian Labour Party executive | on January 4. With this mandate from the majority of the Labour movement the Government will introduce the necessary amendment of the Defence Act late in January. Victoria and Queensland are the dissentient States. Opinion whether the “conscription” issue has caused a breach in the solidarity of the Australian Labour Party is divided. The Sydney Sun’s political correspondent says the fact that, “in spite of strong opposition by anti-conscrip-tionist diehards the Labour Party voted solidly on the motion to adjourn the debate on Mr Blackburn’s amendment, which sought to pledge the Government against conscription £ broad, makes the Government confident that nothing can split the party.” Other political commentators refer to last week’s “freak crisis” and “sham fight.” Tribute is widely paid to Mr Curtin’s skill as a political tactician in averting a crisis. Reputation Abroad Of the gravest concern to many Australians has been the impression which the Parliamentary flare-up may have caused abroad. The Sydney Morning Herald says: “As an exhibition of Parliamentary tactics the proceedings had their entertaining side, but those who care for the reputation of Australia abroad must wish that this brief and inglorious session had never been held. “ Our enemies will rejoice to see us thus disputing over the use of our fighting forces; our friends may well wonder what it is all about. Why, they must ask, does a nation renowned for its fighting spirit, seem to consume itself in controversy over so relatively an academic question as whether its troops shall strike at the enemy as one army wherever he is to be found? “ The answer lies not in any real weakness in the Australian national character, but in political antipathies and prejudices, which date back to the conscription referenda of a quarter of a century ago.” Paying tribute to Mr Curtin’s personal leadership, the Sydney Morning Herald urges Cabinet changes to give the Prime Minister assistants “on whose loyalty and ability he can rely.”