THE CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 69, 14 December 1917, Page 7

THE CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM

ATTEMPT TO KILL THE FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER MAN CAUGHT IN THE ACT Melbourne, December 13. It is officially announced that during tlio referendum meeting on Monday night on tho Cricket Ground an attempt on the life of Mr. Hughes was frustrated. Tlio policc seized a man who was about to hurl a knife at the Prime Minister.—Press Assn. GLOOMY COMMENT ON WAR SITUATION "PREGNANT WITH DISASTER." Sydney, December 13. Mr. William Watt (Fcdoral Minister for Public Works and Railways), speaking at the Millions Club, said:— ' 'The.present position, seems ta bo bad; absolutely rotten. The newspapers, which aro. censored, mako things black enough, but the telegrams which come to the Government aro blacker still. Tho military situation is pregnant with disaster—even early disaster."—Press Assu.

The foregoing cablegram was brought under tlio notice of tho Defence Agistor yestorday, and Sir James Allen made tho following statoment upon it:— "The Now Zealand Government, as far as I am aware, has received no such information, and I cannot bolievo that this is a correct interpretation of what Mr. Watt said. "The news that wo have is that thoro aro ainplo men at tho front; that tlioy are sufficiently supplied with munitions, and that on the West front tho initiativo is in the hands of our Allied commanders, whenever thev wish to take it. We possess, also, the initiativo in the air, and, as far as one can gather, wo aro likely to maintain it. "Tho submarine troublo has not been such a menace that wo have not been a bio to cope witli it, and there is every prospect of tho output of shipping in a short timo boiug equal to, and even in oxcoss of, tho losses by submarine attack. There is no information that I am aware of that tho Government has received that lias not been disclosed to tho public."

P.P.A. CONGRATULATES FEDERAL PREMIER Gy Telegraph—Press Association Masterton, December 13. Tho Protestant Political Association of New Zealand to-dav forwarded congratulations to Mr. AV. M. Hughes (Federal Premier) and the Commonwealth Government in the fight for conscription, and wishing the movement great success.

THE PORT OF BRISTOL BIG DOCK EXPANSION SCHEME. London, December 12. Tho Bristol City Council is expending £1,325,000 in'enlarging the Avonmouth Docks, owing to growth of the business of tho port.—Aus.-N.55. Ca.blo Assn.