ANOTHER CONSCRIPTION CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1917, Page 3

ANOTHER CONSCRIPTION CAMPAIGN.

POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. Sydney, December 20. Just before the war. Dr. Ward, the well-known editor of tile Sydney Daih Telegraph, retired into private life. The other day it was announced that the virile old gentleman—lie is nearly 70— was going north to edit the Brisbane Telegraph. Speaking at Journalists' Institute gathering, ihe explained that at this time be wanted to do something for his country. The rejection of conscription by Australia had affected him greatly; but ho foresaw that the matter could not rest where thoughtlessness, selfishness and disloyalty had now placed it. Presently there would be another cry for compulsory service, and he wanted to be in a position to add his voice and influence to its successful prosecution. 'So lie had come back into journalism. Dr. Ward voiced a belief that is rapidly growing in Australia, The Federal authorities are doing everything pos-1 sible to get the men the voluntary system—Cut it is generally thought that the effort will fail. The method so loudly advocated by the anticonscriptionists will be given a perfectly fair trial. When it 19 proved ineffective, the demand for compulsory service will again arise, more insistent than ever. That will perhaps be three or four months hence.

Somewhat sharp criticism of tlie manner in which Mr. Hughes guided the recent effort to introduce conscription suggests that there may bo different methods employed next time. Mr. Hughes has been told that lie made a fatal blunder in calling up men for training before lie had the power to send them abroad, that he spent £OOO,OOO and accomplished nothing beyond greatly irrigating the people affected, And it has been said, also, that conscription should have been introduced by proclamation, and not by the vote of the people. The latter argument is scarcely fair to Mr. Hughes, wlio could never have got his t'hen Cabinet to agree to suck a proclamation.

LOYALTY OF P.L.L.? The political, organisation of Australian Labor generally takes its time from the Political Labor League of Xew South Wales. - This fact gives added cignificance to certain mysterious activities of the latter body.

Tho P.L.L. fought the conscriptionproposal with tooth and daw, and one of its principal arguments was that voluntary recruiting had not been given a fair cluince. The Federal authorities have now initiated <1 vigorous voluntary campaign and it was thought that the P.L.L., in order to provide n counterblast to recent ,nglv aspersions upon its loyalty, would assist in the appeal for recruits. But the P.L.L., instead of displaying enthusiasm, has shown a- sort of sulky acquiescence in the proposal. Instead, it has been showing much more interest in the agitation for the reduction of the sentence* recently imposed on the I.W.W. incendiaries and criminals.

Now comes the most startling report —that the P.L.L. has decided against any assistance being given to voluntary recruiting, and that a few of the more decent-minded members have broken away from the executive as a protest. The P.L.L. has furiously denied that this report of its secret meeting is correct. It declares that it merely resolved to oppose any form of recruiting which involved pressure being brought to bear on eligible men by their employers. Otherwise, it says, it will support recruiting. The fact remains, however, that this body and the Sydney Labor Council have been openly associated with certain notoriously disloyal elements, that organised Labor is showing no enthusiasm ill the recruiting campaign—is displaying, instead, a tendency to lay down intolerable conditions as the price of its support, and that some pf the better class of men attached to the P.L.L are now inclined to diss-ociate themselves from the executive of that body.

Some far-seeing men here ilo not hesitate to sav that very soon this '"secret junta" will start an unti-wruiting. peace-at-any-privc campaign. It is almost- incredible, yet those who Unow the P.L.L. best expect the worst and ugliest things from it. It has'had matters much its own way for a long time now, but even the average Australian, who does not trouble much about political rights and tfrongs, is beginning to see that this body, which speaks in the name of democracy, i* actuated solely bv class hatred and intense class selhshness. Once let it show itself openly disloyai— ?.nd it is perilously close to that now —and tlmt will be the certain end of the power of the r.L.L. I-or Austialia in spite of certain unfortunate signs to'the contrary, is fervently loyal and overwhelmingly in favor of the continuance of a fight for the complete attain- | recnt of the things for which the Allies ! have made such sacrifice),.