AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1916, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

CONSCRIPTION QUESTION.. LABOR MANIFESTO. By Cable.—Press Association—Copyright Melbourne, May 11. Tlie War Proßts Bill, modelled on the British Act, has been introduced in the House of Representatives. ■Mr. Cook asked for a referendum on conscription. Mr. Irvine, advocating conscription, said he did not think we would lose the war, but .the danger of a premature peace was becoming greater daily. The Trades Hall Congress has bee» I convened to discuss war services. It re- | presents 300,000 unionists. A motion was submitted recording detestation of | •conscription, which would introduce vile means by which labor would be overawed by capital, affirming that the voluntary system would supply sufficient men, and calling on the Government to increase privates' pay to 10s a day and appropriate for war purposes all rents, interests, profits, and other incomes in excess of the equivalent pay of a private. The discussion was adjourned. Each jelegate received a manifesto urging all unionists to prepare for a general strike to render the imposition of conscription impossible. If a militaristic caste was essential only to bolster up capitalism, let the labor movement pronounce not against any particular nationality, but for the unity of labor as the hope of the world. Should conscription become law the Government would challenge an organised revolt, and would have to take the lives of those who will uphold the basic working class principles at any cost. The Labor Conference has concluded. It recommended the Government to empower the Commodities Commission to determine wages and inquire into profits with a view to regulating the prices in any industry. It carried a motion endorsing Mr. Pearce's opposition to conscription, and advocated *b international understanding between the workers to render war impossible. It also prepesed that no further war loans bearing interest be raised, but that future war needs should be raised by compulsory pro rata contributions from people whose incomes are £3OO per annum and over.