AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM. ■ ■ • / THE AFTERMATH - Sydney, Nov. 1. The latest referendum figures are:— No ►... 973,080 l'es v...... 891,903 Majority against ... 82,075 A special meeting of twenty anticonscriptionist members of the State labour Party requested the Political Labour League executive to form a new party, which will be recognised as the official Labour Party. Brisbane. Nov. 1. The executive of the Queensland -Labour Party has expelled Mr. Bamford, member of the Home of Representatives, and Senator Givens, on account of their support of conscription. Melbourne, Nov. 1. Mr, Hughes has accepted the resignations of Messrs. Higgs, Gardiner, and Russell.. i Sydney, Nov. 1. - The Herain voices the growing opinion that, with the counting of the absentee votes, there is a possibility that the referendum decision may be altered. Ths Returned Soldiers' Asso:iatic:i is •disgusted at the .-esult of the rc-feren-.dum, and proposes to form a regiment from returned m,"-n. It is believed that StQO will be able to pass the doctor. WHEAT FOR EXPORT Sydney, Nov. 1. The price'or wheat for c:;porf, including X*w Zealand, has been filed st 5s %1. ' RECRUITING IN AUSTRALIA. The Sydney corre«pondent of the Wellington Post gives the following particulars, which ' are specially interesting in view of the conscription referendum in Australia:— THE MEN CALLED UP. Dn October 20 there were over 17,000 called-up single men already in camp, undergoing training: Strange to say, these 'men havo submitted quite willingly and "heerfully to military life. The majority seem quite prepared to "do their share/' provided other.) mafcc an equal sacrifice. No less than I'CO of them have already volunteered for active terviee abroad. On the same date 109,000 single men - had reported, and the total vrt« still incomplete. Mr. Hughes's original estimate of' 172,0D0, so scornfully attacked, has been more than justified. Of those examined, there is an average of about 2S per cent, immediately rejected as unfit. About 40 pcT cent, of those who report are putting in anplioatioas for exemption, anil a very large proportion of these will ba granted. Special arrangements were made to enable Australian -soldiers in France, Egypt, and Britain to record their vote'. The polling commenced on October 1-8.. A prohibition v;as issued against the delivery of speeches to the soldier*, but permission was given for the distribution of ;. manifesto and an explanation or the proposals to each man. Soldiers who left Australia after the Usue of the writ for the referendum voted before tiey embarked for the front. WHAT IS PROPOSED Reinforcements enlisted at September 25, 103,000. Additional reinforcements needed up to July 31, 1!)17, 100,000. Msn available—ls2,ooo fit, single, and Without dependants. Voluntary recruiting to be continued. Deficiency under voluntary recruiting to be made up by compulsory service. Men to be called up month by month as required. Supplemented by voluntary recruiting, single men called up compulsorily will, it is relieved, fill all the gaps. In any !<.iso, conscription will continue only for the duration of the war. No man under 21 years of age will be called up compulsorily. (absolute):—• (!) Only sons (2) Any single man who is the sole •support of dependants. (3) In families that have already given volunteers, the remaining members up to one-half of the family not to be called. NoivmilUary' tribunals for appeal* for exemption First exemption, tribunal: A Magistrate. ■ _ Exemption Appeal Court: A State Judge. Final Exemption Appeal Court: Judge of tne Commonwealth High Court. Present fates of pay to be maintained alike for volunteers and men compulsorily called up.. Maximum separation allow.wee 'or marrfed Soldier* to be increased from 8s