THE CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1631, 31 October 1916, Page 3

THE CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM.

AUSTRALIA VOTES ‘WO!” THE LATEST FIGURES. Sydney, Yesterday. Incomplete referendum returns, including Queensland, show: — No 888,283 Yes 8(11,421’ Majority at present for No. .88,881. The following is the text of the question put to the Australian electors on Saturday: — Are you in favour of the Government having, in this grave emergency, the same compulsory powers over citizens in regard to requiring their military service,, for the term of this war, outside the Commonwealth, as it now has in regard to military service within the Commonwealth ’ VOTING AT A PREVIOUS REFERENDUM. 'flu- last occasion on which a tcferendum was taken in Australia was on 31st .May, 1013, when the question of altering tin* Constitution so as to extend the powers of the Commonwealth, which had been submitted lo a referendum two years before, was again placed before the people. The following (able shows the number of electors enrolled, the number of voters, and the percentage of (‘lectors who voted on the proposals:— State. Enr’ld. Voted. Pei-c'g. N.SAV. 1,038,187 717,855 80.28 Vie. 830,301 828,881 75.40 Q'land 383,082 280,525.77.28 S. Aus. 214,026 105,483 80.10 W. Aus. 179,748 132,149 73.50 Tas. 106,748 80,398 75.32 Comm. 2,780,218 2,033,251 73.88 AUSTRALIA V.TLL BE THERE. A PARODY THAT CAME TRUE. The following article which appeared in the Sydney Bulletin on October lOrh indicates (hat that, paper had a saturnine premonition of the results of the Conscription referendum:—

Scene—Berlin. An Imperial I’alaee. Seated in a Council Chamber the Kaiser, Bethmann-Ilollweg and Von Tirpitz. The news had just arrived that Australia has voted No on the Referendum proposals. The Kaiser: So Bull’s cub has turned him down. Is that so?

Befhmann-Hollweg: Riehtig, Majcstat [Correct your Majesty.] The Kangaroo has proved a quitter and the Anzacs must look to Russia for reinforcements.

Yon Tirpitz: Donner nnd Blilzen, what a joke! Of course, the numbers don’t matter, but the moral effect —it is immense! Nothing like a little judicious spending of money in the proper places! Look at Greece —look at

11011-weg: Not so loud, alter Knabe! Besides, this Australia!* business is more dundorheadedness than corruption. The very idea of trying a Referendum in the middle of a war to decide whether one should send reinforcements! Oh, it. is superb! The Kaiser: Nein, nein, ! think the money has-done it. Note that, they look no Referendum as to whether they should enter the- war. They send their hoys to the* front; then wc get to work - and —the fools! —(hey lake a plebiscite as to whether they shall send their own llcsh and blood assistance!

Von Tirpitz: Jl is no matter. Now it. is for ns to make the best use of their folly, is Berlin hellagged yet .’

Ilollweg; The city is a sea of Imperial banners. Ami f have wired (o our Headquarters on ihe Western Front, that our regimental hands shall strike up “Australia Will he There." (101 lin llimniel —what a juke I The Kaiser: After ail, I hose verdanunten Australians are a poor lot. Deserting their own children! Ach! They don't grasp yet tile big national idea that made old Deutschland great. Alt, it is good! I was getting afraid that the British idea

of liberty would come out on top, after all. Our dream was slipping from us till this happened 1 hear London’s in mourning. Send over a dozen Zeppelins to liven them tip with an illumination, and let the “Kolnisehe Zeitung’’ and other right-thinking organs print a few articles sympathising with .John Bull over his children's ingratitude. Give ’em a hit of their Shakespeare:

“How harder than a serpent’s tooth it is To have a thankless child.’’

Enter messenger with a telegram. Bethmauu-Iluliweg takes it aml reads: “Uu receipt of the intelligence that Australia had turned down the Keferendtuu proposal many of the Australian troops broke out in tils of furious rage. They say openly they arc shamed by their own people. Some demand to be placed in the most dangerous positions, as they do nut wish ever to go back to Australia. The common expression among them is, “We tire betrayed!’ and they want to know lias there been any other example throughout the war of a people ‘turning dug’ ou its own soldiers. The phrase, ‘Australia scabbed on us,’ is uu every Anzae’s lips.” * The Kaiser: Mein Goit! This is the richest morsel! More Hags, Von Tirpiiz! More crosses for our freundts in Australia What did you say the bands would play? Olt, “Australia Will be There!” Ja, ja! Nortrefflich! That is the tune, “Australia Will be There”! Brisbane. ~8. -Urey.