The Dominion. TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1917. A "WIN-THE-WAR" VICTORY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3073, 8 May 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1917. A "WIN-THE-WAR" VICTORY

Although the complete returns are not yet available, a decisive victory for the National Government in the Federal election contest appears assured... In the House of Representatives the figures already to hand leavo no room for doubt that Mr. Hughes and his associates will have a substantial majority, while so _ far as tlie Senate is concerned private advices received here go further than tho Press messages in confidently predicting that the Nar tional Government has won the required number of seats to ensure that it will bo able to command a majority there as well. The contest for the' Senate seats was, of 'course,- the vital issue of tho elections. Prior to tho dissolution the National Government had a working majority in the Lower Chamber, but was in a minority in the Senate. Otherwise a general election would not have been forced on the country at this stage. But while interest centres most keenly in the result of the Senate election, .great importance must be attached to tho fact that the people ■of Australia have been afforded the opportunity of expressing their confidence or lack of confidence in tho National Government, and have in the most emphatic fashion accorded it their support. This is especially significant ,in view of the determination of the Government to go to_ tho country on a "Win-the-war" issue. This has been the outstanding plank in the platform of Government candidates throughout tho whole campaign, and this attitude was in striking contrast with that of the Official Labour Party, which devoted itself almost entirely to parochial party dssues'and a bitter and persistent denunciation of Mr. Hughes. Supporters of the Government made a good deal "of capital out of the manner in which the opponents of the Primo Minister vilified him and clamoured for his downfall as the chief airn and object of their campaign. It is probable that these vicious personal attacks from the mon who had previously applauded him as their leader won Mb. Hughes _ a good deal of sympathy, and in some- instances_ at least they helped to divide sections of the Official Labour organisation. To those outsido of tho Commonwealth tho chief interest in the result of the elections will, of course, relate to the probable effect they will have on the part Australia will continue to play in' the war. The National Government fought to retain office as a "Win-the-war Party," and asisuch it ,has been re-elected.. Mr. Hughes and his Ministers made it plain beyond all question that they were determined if returned to power that Australia should assist to the bitter end in the struggle against the Central Powers, and that no effort would be spared to ensure the victory which was necessary to the safety of tho Empire and the future well-being of the people of the Commonwealth. But, unhappily, Mr. Hughes, in the stress of the election contest, appears to have wavered on tho question, of conscription. His opponents sought to confuse the issues at stake by endeavouring to create the impression that the real question for the electors was conscription v. anti-conscription. Having defeated conscription at the referendum, the Official Labour Party no doubt hoped that if they could induce the electors to subordinate all else to the conscription issue they would defeat tho National Government. Mr. Hughes was not blind to the design of his opponents, and he probably exaggerated the danger to be feared therefrom.'-. In any case, in reply to attacks, he made this declaration of his position' on April 24: I hope and believe that the Allies will he ere long victorious, and that the war will he over this year. If so, all will he well, and we shall not bring the issue of conscription again before the people; but if a great reverse .should overtake the Allies, if the British Navy should be defeated, if the Empire should receive a blow that would send it reeling, then, in that event, and if voluntary recruiting fails, in the interests of Australia, of liberty and of the Empire the question will be brought again before the people. Otherwise, I. say again most emphatically, it will not be brought forward. - This pronouncement seems to have provoked a storm of protest from the ranks of his own supporters. The Melbourne Age summarised the prevailing opinion that the attitude adopted by Mr. Hughes meant that he would not raiso the issue of compulsory service unless and , until such a calamity overtook the Allies as would render any assistance that Australia would be capable of rendering' valueless. "To pretend that lie is still true to the . principle whereof his advocacy made him famous throughout the world," comments the Aqe, "is futile when he 'tells us frankly that ho will never again bring the issue forward until events have happened that would make it a work of utter vanity for Australians to conscript themselves." A day or two later Mr. Hughes explained that he had been misunderstood, or at any rate that his remarks were liable to misconstruction. ; , I want to State (juite clearly and exactly where 1 and the Government stand on the matter. As a democrat, 1 submitted to tlie people the question of compulsion for oversea service, and, as a democrat, 1 abide by their verdict as given on Octol>er 2S, and I pledge myself, on behalf of the Government and on behalf of tho party, not to enforce conscription, either by statute or by regulation, during the lifetime of the forthcoming Parliament. We hope and believe that the tide of victory is now flowing, strongly for the Allies, and that before long they will be triumphant. Wo shall not, as it has been alleged by tho archbishop, find a ready excuse or a pretext for putting this question to the people. Wo shall put it only, if the tide of battle, which now flows strongly for the Allies, turns against them. In that case we shall put it before the people. (Loud cheers.)

It must bo confesed that this_ does not greatly improvo his position. Ho pledges his Government not to introduce conscription by Act of Parliament or by regulation in any circumstances, and will only take a referendum on the subject in the event of tho tide of battle turning against the Allies. That is the position as our latest Australian files show it. For a "Win-the-war" Ministry it suggests timidity and weakness, but it is only fair to recall the result of the last referendum and the temper of the people of the Commonwealth as disclosed thereby. To-day it is confidently asserted that a referendum now

would result in a "Yes" majority, but until the matter is put to tho test tho question must remain in doubt. In spite of tho weakness shown on the conscription issue, the success of the National Government is a matter for congratulation. In its ranks arc the most capable of tho Federal politicians and the men most determined to prosecute the war with all the strength and power at their command.