The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1916. THE COMMONWEALTH AND CONSCRIPTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1631, 31 October 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1916. THE COMMONWEALTH AND CONSCRIPTION.

TO s:iy Iliat. we are disappointed with (lu* result of the Commonwealth ballot o)i the conscription issue, is to pul it mildly. Ansi rutin is (In* lirsi pniller. They have answered "No" to tin' cull lo defend their nulionul existence. That (hey have, categorically refused in such large numbers comes ns n most unwelcome surprise. The Wellington Post, commenting on the hnHot, says: “The fact that, in the third year of the great war, the Commonwealth contains over SOI),000 unconvinced volnnlaryists or anarchists will he worth several hall a lions le the Kaiser, and will he carefully noted by other nations to whom the Australian psychology and lighting temper are of perennial interest. Probably never before in the world’s history has compulsory service in a. great war been the subject of a popular vote by a continent.. And the registered results cannot fail to impress any nation that feels more than a passing interest in the vast, unpopulated spaces of people who, when called upon to defend their national existence, answer “No.” “If the final figures,” continues our contemporary, “eonlinn the ‘No’ lead, the conclusion is obvious. In that ease, as far as we can see, there is only one honourable means of eseape. Either Australia must, fail to send edeipiate reinforcements —that is, must default in her engagement —or till 1 volunteering figures must advance with a hound. If tin: ‘No’ voter who is auli-eumpul-sionist hut not anti-national wishes to preserve tin* national honour, he must now, if til, come forward as a volunteer; hut will he? That is the practical question that (‘alls tor an immediate answer. But over and above the material aspect of the Australian shortages is the moral effect of this heavy ‘No’ vole, which is otjc of the worst blows seiititnejjj hits ever received. A negative result must be regarded as ait

intimation that, at the Empire's (‘all, Australia rofusos to accept a national obligation that is normal, even in peace, among the Frenchspeaking world, and which oven (ho I'nited States accepted from (lie hand of Lincoln in order to assure the Northern victory in (he Civil War. We would not like to say that the glory attaching to the name of ‘An/.ac’ has been tarnished, but it certainly has not been added to. What does the glory of a llrst army amount to if, at the call for reinforcements, the heart of the people is not in the light? Apart from the military and Imperial phases, the ballot opens up a prospect of political complications within the Commonwealth, but pending 1 lie final result —including (he soldiers’ vote — to discuss that aspect would be premat tire."