COMPULSION BILL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2769, 12 May 1916, Page 5

COMPULSION BILL

ALL-NIGHT SITTING OF THE

COMMONS

COMMITTEE STAGE IN

PROGRESS

By Telesrarh—Press Association-GosyiigM

(Eec. May 11, 11.30 p.m.)

„ London, May 11. the House of Commons had an- all* night sitting in Committee on tho Military Service Bill. The Bill is not Vet through Committee.

', groups of the ages of 19 and 41 will be called up, on June 13.

BRITISH WORKERS' CALL FOR UNITY,

DECISIVE VICTORY THE AIM.

Londonj May 10. At the British workers' meeting Mr. 9. V\ alsh (Labour ■ M.P. for Lancashire) moved, and Mr. W. ' Crooks seconded, n motion acknowledging the overseas work-* ers' splendid heroic services, and cordially endorsing Mr. Hughes's Empire Labour policy.' The motion urges the organisation of the Empire resources in order t<i secure such a decisive victory as will ensure lasting peace and national safety, and guaranteeing the workers the highest attainable-standard of life. '> ' DRAMATIC APPEAL TO LABOUR STRIKING SPEECH BY MR. . HUGHES, . .. (Rec. May 11, 9.5 p.m.) London, May 10. Mr. W. M. Hughes (Prime Minister o}' Australia), speaking at the Queen's Hall, delivered the longest speech since his arrival here. He made a powerful appeal for the organisation of industries, antf exhorted Labour to rise up and take .its rightful place in the conduct of the war and in the Government after the war. "Now .is labour's hour to show its mettle, an opportunity to prove itself worthy, capable, and willing to govern. The nation looks expectantly and hopefully to Labour to slop boldly forth in a greatcrisis, involving the welfare of the race. It demands 1 a national policy. Let Labour rise nobly and-, fearlessly and take its place on tlie quarter-deck of the ship of State/' COMPULSION ISSUE IN AUSTRALIA REQUEST FOR A FEDERAL REFERENDUM. Melbourne, May 11. In the Houso of Representatives Mtl Cook asked for a referendum on conscrip* liun. • ....... -• Sir William Irvine, in advocating conscription, said he did not'think we would lose'.'the'war; but the .danger of a. pro* mature peace became greater every day, (Rec. May 11, 9.50 p.m.) Both Houses have debated the question' of conscription at length without arriving at finality. . . In the House Mr. Cook (Leader of tha Opposition), attacked 'the Government for not adopting compulsion; ."He- questioned: whether the maximum effort had "been, put out when 120,C00 single men had refused;'' to enlist. Ho believed that a' referendum would result in an overwhelming vote in favour of compulsory service.''Mr. W. G. Higgs (Acting-Minister of Defence) stated that .the Government had information which it was"unable to'disclose. This information,had.been given, to members at a secret meeting the previous evening. _Jlr. Catts advocated a 6ecrct session to discuss the situation without restriction. In the Senate Senator Millen-deprecat-ed comparisons being drawn between' tha efforts of the various Dominions. The most convincing argument for demonstrating whether or not more men were needed; was in the fact that. Britain had found: it necessary to adopt compulsion. He believed we had exhausted the possibilities ?f the voluntary system, and therefore, in his opinion, Australia..muet.resort to compulsion.

Senator Pearco (Acting-Prime Minister) 1 stated that though he had not been officially informed by the Imperial authorities that conscription was anticipated, ha anticipated that as soon as the Conscription Bill passed tho British Parliament, all Englishmen resident abroad would ba automatically called up. Those resident hero would probably be given the option of enlisting, the Australian forces or travelling to England to enlist- there. ;

DISCUSSED BY TRADES HALL CO GRESS. ■

THREAT OF A GENERAL'STRIKE.Melbourne, May 11.: At the Trades Hall Congress, convened to discuss war service, 300,000 unionists being represented, a motion was submitted recording its detestation of conscription, which would introduce a vile means by which labour could bo over-awed by capital. The/motion affirmed that the voluntary system would supply sufficient men and calls on the CJoverunieut to increase the pay of privates to 10s. per day; tt> appropriate for war purposes all rents; interests, profits, and other incomes in excess of the equivalent pav of a private.'

The Congress lias adjourned.: Each delegate received a manifesto; urging all unionists to prepare for a gen' eral strike to. render the imposition oI conscription impossible. "If the military lstic caste is essential only to bolster up .capitalism, let the Labour movement pronounce, hot any particular nationality; but the unity of Labour, the hope of the world. Should conscription become la.tf\ the Government will challenge an organ< lsed revolt, which will have to take ths lines of those who uphold the basib priii* . cii>ies of tho working class at any cost/' RESOLUTION BY LABOUR CON- . I'ERENCE. - * Melbourne, ifaj- 11. At the Labour Conference a motion wai earned endorsing Senator l'earce's opposition to conscription. The conference advocated an international understanding among workers to render war impossible; that 110 further war loans bearing 'interest should be raised in future, and: that money for war needs should be raised by compulsory pro rata contributions by peo< pie with incomcs of .6300 per annum an<s over. ' Sheffield shopkeepers are charging their customer* from }d. to ljd. on paper bags. Owing to the shortage of paper seven vernacular Peking- newspapers are clos- ' ing down.