AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2881, 20 September 1916, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

-——♦— — - CONSCRIPTION AND THE ■' REFERENDUM ' ' RECORD MEETING FOR SYDNEY. -'•-'■ Er Telegraph-Press 'ABSooiation-Copyriglit '""" . ■ (Rec. September 19,11.25 p.m.) Sydney, September 19. ■ -'■■■',-. The referendum campaign meeting in ■ the Town Hall was the largest. ,; held in Sydney. Thousands were un- . 7 "able to gain, admission. Rousing and ,; '■'" passionate appeals for duty and''the > national honour made toy Mr. Hughes, " ..- the Lord Mayor (Mr. Meagher), Mr. 'Joseph Cook (Leader of the Federal Opposition Party), Mr. W. A. Holman ■ .'(Promier of Now South Wales), and other leaders, evoked a remarkable deV ■ monstration of enthusiasm. Mr. Hughes said that the Govern- "'■'- '"ment did not consider it would bo necessary to draw on married men for compulsory service, as tho supply of ■r single men would suffice. Only sons ~' .-. would he exempted. In addition, .civil - tribunals would he established! to hear ,:--.',•;; applications' for exemption. Refuting . ..-.the statement that soldiers' pay was to be Mr. Hughes said that the only alteration would he to increase •' the maximum of married men's sopara- ' tion allowance from eight to ten shil- ■'"•,' lings. -Mr. Hughes stated that tho Government required 100,000 men_ to main- "■'. tain the reinforcements until tho end of July, when, ho believed, if the peoplo should prove resolute, a decisive victory would be in sight. "To meet this demand, we have 152,000 fit single men, without dependants, besides enumerated : ' exemptions and others, based on in".''"■"idustnal necessity." ;.':"' At-the conclusion of the meeting it ~','; was resolved, by 4000 to 7, to form a! .it, ..National Committee to. organise a cam- _ paign to secure an affirmative vote at ■ /./the referendum. ■' ::;." '■■' Street meetings wore held round tho • • Town Hall, tho speakers denouncing .conscription. ■ :■ ' A curious incident occurred in connection with tho meeting. Thousands of soldier ants were liberated amongst 1 the crowd outsido the Town Hall. For- . ttinately only one man was bitten, owing to tho prompt action of the police. A number of match-boxes were discovered for liberating the ants, which wero quickly stamped out. It is believed that 'the ants were intended to be used to disturb Mr. Hughes's meeting. v ■ Melbourne, September 19. Tho enlistments for the first fortnight of September in the Commonwealth totalled 3694. BANK NOTi~FORGERIES SOME "1.W.W." MEN IMPLICATED. Sydney, September 19. -— -!- Eight :meh arrested in connection with- forged £5 notes were brought before the Court. Nearly all are connected with the printing trade, and ' several are members of the I.W.W. Henry Bradbury admitted printing about 3000 notes, biit said he was forc- <■ i ed to act at tho revolver-point. One ■ accused was discharged. ITEMS IN BRfEF . INCREASED SEPARATION 'ALLOW- ■■ ANCE. (Rec. September 29, 11.25 p.m.) . !' Melbourne, September 19. • An increased soldiers' separation allowance, with a limit of 10s. for dependants resident in Australia and New Zealand, will commence on October 1. Tho rate for the wife will be Is. sd. per day, and for each child under six- ,. teen did. per day. ALLEGED FRAUD AGAINST NAVY DEPARTMENT. Melbourne,. September 19. As tho result of several months' in- • vestigations, the Navy Department has issued a writ against a Melbourne firm for alleged attempt to defraud. Tho '.'' sum of £15,000 is involved. ,BIG FIRE AT TAMWORTH. Sydney, September 19. A! fire at Tamworth destroyed the ■ store of Smith and Co. Tho damage is "■■-. estimated at £10,000.