The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1917. THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1917. THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Although the result of the recent Federal and State elections did not, reflect the verdict of the people of Australia on the conscription referendum, that was the burning question which dominated the struggle, second only in importance being the organised effort of Labor to secure a majority and thereby put out of all possibility and further attempt to force conscription on the country. It was unfortunate that the Federal Premier (Mr. W. H. Hughes), whose Imperialistic orations were ever in evidence during his visit to England, should have displayed a greater desira to retain office than to help the Empire t. the most crucial stage of the war. In the faee-of the referendum verdict.there seemed a possi bility of the labor anti-conscriptionists obtaining a majority in the House, so M.\ Hughes gave an emphatic assurance that the question of conscription should not again be brought before ti'O people unless "the Empire should receive a blow that would send it reeling," and then, if voluntary recruiting failed, the question would be brought up again, and only in that event. The absurdity of such a statement is glaringly '.'inpatient, for its only meaning is that when too late to be of use compulsion will again be considered. The exigencies of such politics seem to eliminate, those high principles of statesmanship which place country before all other considerations. It was. a mere bid for votes that wag more in keeping with the tradition of carpet bag politicians than. Imperial patriotism. It must not, however, be taken that Mr. Hughes' attitude represented that of the Nationalist party, many of whom were prepared to fulfil the obligations of the Commonwealth to maintuin five divisions of fighting men at the front with, reinforcements from Australia, if not by voluntary means then by compulsory. We agree with Sir Win. Irvine's statement that.the conscription question should not have been submitted to the electors, but should have been decided by Parliament. If, as he rightly contended, conscription was necessary six months ago, it was necessary now, and he regarded the quea« tion as the main issue of the election. In this attitude Sir Wm. Irvine had th« support of the section of the Australian press whose opinion is of real .service to the Commonwealth. The fact that the Nationalists have secured a good working majority in the House of Representatives may well be taken as an indication that the referendum verdiut no longer stands good, for the Labor party made that the issue, of the strug-' gle. Owing to the peculiar method adopted with regard to the constitution of the Senate there is a possibility that the Laborites may be able to nullify the legislation passed by the House. This Senate is not elected on a population basis, but the six original States arc entitled to six members each, so that 80,000 voters in Tasmania have an equal voice with 1,700,000 of voters in New South Wales. It is obvious that under such an undemocratic system the will of the majority can and may be set at nought, and a deadlock in legislation produced. This, is the only fraction of com. fort that the Labor party can.gleam from the elections.'at which they have suffered such a decisive and well-deserved "defeat. That the National Government has been triumphant is most gratifying, but if it should unfortunately happen that Labor controls the Senate, the political position in Australia will be more humiliating. In every State the verdict of the majority pf the people has been for the Nationalists as members of the House, but to avoid another deadlock the Nationalists require at least thirteen oui of eighteen seats in the Senate. It is quite possible that had the Nationalist leader been less timid the victory would have been greater still.. The contrast between the thrilling heroism of the Australians at the front and the weakness of a number of the Minister in the Commonwealth, is so amazing that it defies explanation. It is well, however, to find that the anti-conscriptionists hav» received a well-merited defeat, and for the honor of the Commnowealth its obligations as to reinforcements should no longer be allowed to suffer default. There are several lossons to be derived from the struggle, not the least of which is that it was a grave error of judgment to have relegated to the people a question the Parliament should have decided without the slightest hesitation in face, of the fact that the very existence of Australia was threatened by the enemies of the limping ■ '

WHERE ARE THE MEN? Already half of the men in the Krat Division have been drawn, leaving no more than 40,000 in the lleserve. In the first six ballots 20,782 incn were called up to fill 8574 vacancies. What has become of the other two-thirds 1 Are they all medically rejected or exempted by reason of the essential nature of their callings? And how many are defaulters It would be interesting to know. Mow in tho last ballot the Government have culled up no fewer than 8530 to Jill the lflOi) vacancies, or a proportion of five to Vine, as against three to one before. This is. surely a very high .proportion, even !■ taking, into consideration the stricter "medical examination and the increasing proportion of unfit mer. in the Dominion. If this rate of five to one is continues the reserve must be exhausted in live months' time, whereas at the previous rate the Division woujd provide recruits into the new year. Up till now volunteers have about half-filled the Reinforcements, many belonging to the Secon;! Division 1 , but it is stated there is now an increasing disposition on the part of the reservists to await the turn of the ballot. This, of course, throws the responsibility of providing recruits upon the First Division., But the public desire to know what is becoming of the men called up. We have now balloted 36,U00 men and the vacancies to be filled were only 10,000. How have the remaining 25,000 been disposed of? The public surely has a right to know. It also has a right to information as to what steps h,' Defence Department has taken to trace defaulters and the success attending the efforts. In matters of such importance the Defence Minister should take tho public fully into his confidence at the earliest opportunity.