UNREST IN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2904, 17 October 1916, Page 4

UNREST IN AUSTRALIA

CONSCRIPTION AND THE I.W.W

Aniong the passengers to arrive from Sydney by the Biverma yesterday forenoon was Mr. W. B. Blow, representative of the New Zealand'Tourist.Departmenb in Sydney, who, with Mrs. Blow, has come across to Newi Zealand on holiday leave. Mr. Blow, in the course of an informal chat, said that there was a great deal of unrest prevailing in Sydney at the present on account of the referendum .campaign; ori' the question of conscription. Considerable disappointment existed in many circles over the change of attitude of the Hon. William Hughes over this subject. He came out from England after making as great an impression as it was almost possible for a man to do, and when everyone expected that he would have enough guns to declare for conscription outright, and influence the Government to declare itself, he allowed it to go to a referendum. "This had lost him the confidence of both the pro-con-scriptionists and the Labour Party, which promptly ejected him from their counsels: The date of the referendum had been fixed for October 28. No one could say what would happen t&en if it were carried. ■ ' ' ■' . Another cause of grave trouble was the action of emissaries of the 1.W.W., who were prepared to stick at nothing, and who would have to bo suppressed with a very firm hand if further'outrages were to bo nrevented'. The cases against somo of the men wero now before the court, and it would surprise no one if the severest penalty of the law were inflicted. Society had to be protected.-