The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1917. THE CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1917. THE CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM.

Once more is Australia plunged into a referendum campaign o.i the conscription issue. Of itself the question of conscription is merely the recording Yes or No on the ballot paper, but during the strenuous campaign the extremists of the labor party have done their best to stir up strife and class prejudices that have confused the issue. They have even gone to the length of assaulting the Federal Premier, who has been forced by their tactics to treat his opponents with a severity that was due to the slanders and vilifications hurled at him. If the actions of these anti-conscriptionists are, probed there will be revealed more iof the political than the patriotic principles as the main motive power. From a national point of view the answer to the conscription question means deciding whether the men already sent to the front are to be abandoned to their fate by those who vote No; also whether the Empire, including Australia, is to be at the mercy of Germany. Those who answer Yes proclaim their willingness to help the Empire in its hour of crisis, and to help their bre.thern win this war, thereby deciding the fate of German autocracy and securing world wide freedom for development on democratic lines. Unquestionably all the healibyminded people of Australia will not hesitate to vote Yes, but it suits the Labor extremists to sacrifice their country in the pursuit of political power. In no other way can their actions be construed. There is one incident that throws a powerful light on the hopelessness of expecting these extremists to adopt the principle of patriotism instead of a policy of utter selfishness. The Government disfranchised electors of German descent, and in this took a wise step under the circumstances, irrespective of whether these aliens would have voted Yes or No. It would seem natural that such a decision should be received with general approval, inasmuch as the vote was on the question of sending or not sending Australians to fight againßt the Germans. We find, however, that the No party got up an agitation protesting against the disfranchisement. Practically they fell into a .trap, for by protesting they proclaimed their opinion that they were losing supporters. The fact that the support of these German-born residents would plainly indicate that the Nj party were voting in German interests does not appear to have caused them any concern. All that they cared for was to turn down conscription, hoping thereby to climb to political power on the resignation of the Government which was committed to conscription. They appear to have overlooked the fact that Parliament is still supreme, but Mr. Hughes' latest pronouncement should bring diMilhulon on this point, for he

elates that if the people will not vote Yes, then Parliament will decide the matter and act accordingly. There may be, ond doubtless arc, some who conscientiously feel they cauuot vote in tho affirmative, but it is not unreasonable to assume that there are numerically small. Had the question 'been left to the sound judgment of the people without any controversial, personal or political mattors being imported into the campaign, it would have been impossible to feel other than the utmost confidence in an overwhelming affirmative vote being recorded. This view is confirmed by a glance at the centre of negation, or more properly it might be called the cauldron of anti-conscription. This is to be found in Queensland where Labor, under Mr. Ryan, has run riot, and where the Federal Premier was so grossly misrepresented and maltreated, leading to a serious crisis between the State and Federal Governments. What can be said of a State Premier who deliberately attempts to defy the law? What can be said of a Premier who, to evade censorship of a speech containing, according to Mr. Hughes, "lying mis-state-ments and representations of facts," got his objectionable propaganda into Hansard and had 10,000 copies printed off at tlje country's expense, only to be 6eized aad presumably destroyed by the Federal authorities? It is truly pitiable at a time when the need for man power is so vital to the Empire's cause that the deeds of heroism performed by the Australians during the war should be tarnished by such ignoble tactics as those of the extremist Labor section. Mr. Hughes has shown to the people of the Commonwealth the true position of affairs, and the dangers that lie behind the curtain he could only very slightly draw aside. It is just as essential that every citizen of Australia, Canada and New Zealand should do his duty in this world crisis, as it is for the men of Britain and France. In the light of Mr. Hughes' recent stirring appeal it would seem impossible for the people of Australia not to follow his lead, and on Thursday vote Yes. Face to face with a period of immense danger Australia should rally in a manner worthy of the grand reputation of her brave sons.