MR. HUGHES AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1916, Page 6

MR. HUGHES AND THE WAR.

WILL HE PRONOUNCE FOR COMI rULSORY SERVICE. '■WJJ MUST GO ON TO THE END." Sydney, August 10. Australia is still waiting for Mr. Hughes to declare his policy in respect to the enlistment of reinforcements. The recruiting' position is now acute. The number forthcoming is not suflieient to provide reinforcements longer than for three months. Unless the system is altered by that time Australia's army will be wasting in the real sense. What -Air. Hughes will have to say on this subject is awaited with keen expectation. If his words in recent speeches have any meaning he will declare for compulsory service. No one appears to liave any doubt about this. He may meet with opposition in his party, but it will not be great so far as the House of Representatives is concerned. Ttte position of the Senate is different and obscure. Among the trades unions tlure are at least a few from which the opposition will be pronounced. Since landing Mr. Hughes' speeches have been more or less on general lines, of which the purport will be seen from the following report of a speech at. Adelaide the day he left for Melbourne. The occasion was a luncheon given by the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Hughes said he had travelled throughout the Empire, and nowhere had he seen signs of hesitation or of weakness, except among a small section which enjoyed what it did not deserve, the citizenship of a free country. He thought it could be said that never in the history of any nation, great or small, had there been found such unity as existed' among the British people to-day. (Cheers). It was only by united action that they could hope for success. It was abundantly clear that they were up against the greatest force that had ever been created for the destruction of freedom as they understood it. He did not deny the right of other nations to have their ideals. In fact, it was on that ground that Britain took her stand. Liberty, as the Empire understood it was to allow every nation to work out its destiny as it thought fit. If they could prostitute so great a name by such a use, liberty as understood by the Germans was the impressment upon the plastic face of a conquered world of the imprint of its thumb, an# as Germany was, so must they all be or perish. (Cheers). Germany knew many things, but there were some things it did not know. Germany was unable to understand the nature of the British people. (Cheers). There was growing in the sky that darkness which would in the end overwhelm Germany and lier hosts. (Cheers). , A MILLSTONE OP DEBT. "After this war there will be cast upon us and upon the world a grievous'responsibility. We shall be loaded with a millstone of debt. We are like devotees indulging in a tremendous orgy of extravagance. We are destroying, not producing. When peace comes upon the world again we shall have out of chaos to restore order. We shall have to build up a new economic temple, and find in it a place for every man. In this country abounding with resources there is room for everyone. It is for us to create an organisation that will provide means to absorb all in the producing community. There is east upon us the obligation to produce faster and more intensely than ever we did before. Formerly we produced in order that we might"enjoy, now we must province in order that we may i've. I am a great believer in organisation. I believe that we can do a great .leal to prepare for that day which soon■;y or later must come to Australia, when we shall once more set about those peaceful avocations, which to a large extent we have now abandoned. We have seen how nearly we wore engulfed in the pit Germany dug for us, how narrowly we escaped being utterly obliterated, except perhaps as a political entity, having tile shell, but not the sweetness of the kernel. Germany has burrowed into the very heart of our industrial life. To use another metaphor, she had gathered into her hands the reins of the commercial and industrial carriage. In a little while here, and in Italy and Russia, she would have become the dominant factor. It is not too much to say that in Italy commerce and industry arc the vassals of Germany, while before the war Russia lived only on sufferance, Germany directing', and she playing the passive part of carrying out orders. In England, that proiid country, which was once entitled (o call herself the undisputed mistress of commerce, the position was one pitiful to contemplate.

WAR MUST. BE WON. "When we strip it of all pretence, and look at the naked truth, we must see that commerce and industry in England were in the hands of the Germans not utterly perhaps, but in another decade they t, ould have been literally and utterly under her domination. Not satisfied by that amazing progress which by her ingenuity and cunning she had made through the civilised world, Germany took the step of provoking this war. and in taking it, came to her own undoing and to our salvation. (Loud cheers). Literally, I believe that this war, which was to have undone us, will make us. (Cheers). It will teach every section of society many very much-needed lessons. It will strengthen the fibre of the nation. It will enable us, since we are now able to look things fairly and squarely in the face, and to readjust our perspective, to enter into the kingdom that awaits us and develop the greatest heritage that ever yet fell to the lot of man namely, Australia. Australia cannot be held by 5,000,000 men. We have begun by being a British community, and we must continue as a British community. Oh that rock we stand. What will bo necessary to win the war who can say? But whatever is necessary must be* done: and will be done. I hope and believe that the citizens of Australia will do their part whatever it is, and of this you and they may be assured, that so far as the light is revealed to me I shall follow it, no matter where it goes." (Loud cheers). In a speech at Melbourne on Monday Mr. Hughes said: — "We must conquer, yet we cannot prolong the war indefinitely, Germany is bleeding to death, but so are the Allies, and the only way to secure victory is to pour more men into the field. If tiermany is not beaten decisively those responsible for the crimes committed cannot be punished as outraged civilisation demands." He concluded: "Our duty is clear. Whatever is necessary-.will be done by the people of Australia." He would do his duty, no matter whom he pleased or displeased.