AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2963, 29 December 1916, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS

LID NOT VOTE "NO."

There Ims boon considerable curiosity in Australia since the conscription vote was taken as to bow the soldiers voted (says tho Melbourne "Age"). JJeinhers of tho Labour Opposition, believing that the great majority ol them opposed tho introduction of the compulsory principle, havo 'dared the Prime Minister to make tlic voto . known. Last week, in tho House of Representatives, ho did so, and his opponents were much discomfited in consequence. The. question arose on a question by Mr. Cook (N.S.W.), who asked the Prime Minister whether lie was aware that conflicting statements were being made in regard to tho soldiers' voto at tlio front, and whether it would not be possible to set tlio matter at rest. lie, himself, saw no reason why the matter should not ho made public. (Hear, hears from tho Labour Opposition benThe Prime Minister said ho would be glad to mako a return public, but the desiro of tlio military authorities in England precluded that. Mr. Cook; asked whether there was anything tliat precluded a statement as to the result. The Prime Minister said that if Mr. Cook meant a statement as to the fact that a majority of tho men voted for or against tlio proposal, that might ho I given. The fact was that a majority lof the soldiers of tho A.1.1 1 . abroad was substantially in favour of tho referendum. (Cheers and sarcastic laughter from Labour Opposition members.) Mr. Finlayson (Q.): That's good cric-

ket. . • . Mr. Pago (Q.): Ask for .the figures; never mind the questions. Mr. Tudor (V.) asked the Prime Minister if they were to understand that a majority of the A.I.F. abroad was m favour of the referendum., Tho Primo Minister answered that tliat was the case. (Cheers.) A majority of those who recorded their voto for and against tho referendum was in favour of tfie referendum. That liir eluded all entitled to vote—nurses, for instance. Mr. Moloney (V.): You had to drag in the nurses. ...

Mr. Cook referred to the interjection that nurses had to be dragged iu to mako tho majority. "Would it bo pos-, sible for the Prime Minister to say, within the limitations under wh'icli he laboured, anything like the percentage of tho majority, and set these taradiddles at rest? (Laughter, and cheers.) v The Primo Minister said ho was not able to say that, but ho would say that when he * mentioned nurses ho could also have dragged in doctors if he had liked—though ho would much rather drag the nurses in. (Loud laughter.) Ho -would add, however, that it was' not necessary, as implied, to embrace the nurses. (Loud laughter.)