Fix this text
Anzac Bulletin
Fix this textIssued to Members of the Australian Imperial Forces in Great Britain and France by authority
Fix this textof the High Commissioner for Australia.
Fix this textNo. 71. LONDON, DECEMBER 22, 1916. Gratis
Fix this textThe Australian Referendum.
Fix this textFORCES OPPOSED TO COMPULSION.
Fix this textPARTIES IN THE CRUCIBLE.
Fix this text(FROM "THE TIMES" CORRESPONDENT.)
Fix this textSydney, October 31.
Fix this textAustralia is looking at herself in the
Fix this textglass. And she does not admire the
Fix this textreflection mirrored there. The shout-
Fix this texting and the tumult have died away
Fix this textand she is weary and wan and just a
Fix this textlittle ashamed. The conscription re-
Fix this textferendum has revealed a depth of
Fix this textselfishness and ignorance which has
Fix this textfilled her with vague but haunting
Fix this textdread. Never before in the Common-
Fix this textwealth has any polling had such a
Fix this textremarkable effect upon the public
Fix this textmind'. Every man and woman who
Fix this textstudied the portents feared the worst
Fix this textbut hoped for the best. Eight to the
Fix this textend a wholesome optimism prevailed
Fix this textthat Australia would come through
Fix this texther supreme test with credit to the
Fix this textEmpire.
Fix this textThe platform fight was conducted
Fix this textwith a vigour and a viciousness pre-
Fix this textviously unknown in the Dominion.
Fix this textMost things are counted fair game in a
Fix this textfierce electoral struggle, but the
Fix this text" Antis " placed themselves right out-
Fix this textside the pale by issuing most scandal-
Fix this textous literature. They grabbed the
Fix this textelectoral machine of the Labour Party
Fix this textin all the States, and they pitted its
Fix this textorganisation against the magnetism of
Fix this textthe personality of the leaders of the
Fix this textmovement ?the Prime Minister ; Mr.
Fix this textJ. C. Watson, ex-Prime Minister ;
Fix this textMr. Ilolman, Premier of New South
Fix this textWales ; Mr. Vaughan, Premier of
Fix this textSouth Australia. They worked with
Fix this textincredible intensity and filled every
Fix this textState with ready and persuasive
Fix this textspeakers. And no country in the
Fix this textworld ?not even the United States?
Fix this texthas better open-ah speakers than
Fix this textAustralia. The Prime Minister and
Fix this texthis supporters strove to expound the
Fix this textcase for conscription and to refute the
Fix this textgross misrepresentations of their oppon-
Fix this textents, but the voluntary effort of the
Fix this textantis far exceeded the activity of the
Fix this textaffirmatives.
Fix this textFEARS AND MOTIVES.
Fix this textPolling day itself was dull?deadly
Fix this textdull. Some of the States had pro-
Fix this textclaimed a public holiday at the in-
Fix this textstance of Mr. Hughes. All the hotels
Fix this textwere closed everywhere and no pro-
Fix this textgress results of the polling were issued
Fix this textuntil after midnight. All these pre-
Fix this textcautions were taken to prevent possible
Fix this textstreet disturbances. The commercial
Fix this textcommunity were convinced that sabot-
Fix this textage would accompany the polling.
Fix this textInsurance offices were besieged by
Fix this textlegions of business men seeking insur-
Fix this textance against civil commotion. Great
Fix this textnumbers of additional watchmen were
Fix this textstationed in all the large buildings.
Fix this textThe fire brigades were on tiptoe of
Fix this textexpectation. The police were on duty
Fix this textright round the clock. But the vio-
Fix this textlence generated by the Industrial
Fix this textWorkers of the World doctrines never
Fix this textcame into play. The polls closed at
Fix this text8 o'clock. By 10 it was generally
Fix this textknown that an extremely heavy
Fix this text"No " vote had been polled. The
Fix this textcities were deserted. On Sunday when
Fix this textthe first figures were published the
Fix this textstreets were still more deserted. The
Fix this textgreat majority of people appeared to
Fix this textbe too shocked or too ashamed to
Fix this textmove freely abroad.
Fix this textThe first referendum on compulsory
Fix this textservice ever taken in a modern de-
Fix this textmocracy failed because of half a dozen
Fix this texteasily defined reasons :
Fix this text(1) The Irish vote was closely
Fix this textorganised against the Government's
Fix this textbecause every " Yes " vote
Fix this textwas considered a vote cast for England.
Fix this text(2) The best class of eligible single
Fix this textmen volunteered and went to the
Fix this textfront weeks previously.
Fix this text(3) The " Antis " raised the bogy
Fix this textof an Australia stripped of its fighting
Fix this textmales falling an easy prey to any
Fix this textcovetous Asiatic nation.
Fix this text(4) The remoteness of Australia
Fix this textfrom the war area and the general
Fix this textfeeling that it is all a thrilling camera
Fix this textfilm or a nightmare from which the
Fix this textworld may awake at any moment.
Fix this text(5) The distrust of the Prime
Fix this textMinister's figures as to reinforce-
Fix this textments.
Fix this text(6) The emotionalism of the women
Fix this textelectors, who thought they would be
Fix this textcondemning men to death if they
Fix this textvoted " Yes."
Fix this textMR. HUGHES'S MISTAKE.
Fix this textIn sorrow it must be set down that
Fix this textthe Prime Minister went from one
Fix this textmistake to another. If he had take*
Fix this textthe bold course when he returned to
Fix this textAustralia and had submitted the issue
Fix this textstraight away to Parliament he could
Fix this texthave won through, though after much
Fix this textturmoil and tribulation. Instead of
Fix this textthis he was mysterious and dumb.
Fix this textMuch he said about following " the
Fix this textlight " which he saw, but nothing did
Fix this texthe do to reveal this light to the people
Fix this textuntil after he had compromised with
Fix this texthis Cabinet and shifted his responsi-
Fix this textbility upon the electorate. From that
Fix this textmoment his prestige suffered irre-
Fix this textparable damage. His stature as a
Fix this textgreat leader shrank like that of the
Fix this textfather in " Vice Versa " after handling
Fix this textthe fateful stone. For the rest of the
Fix this textfight he was only a skilled advocate
Fix this textwhen he might have been a popular
Fix this textidol. Impartial students will probably
Fix this textacclaim his masculine conduct of a
Fix this textmost intricate and trying campaign,
Fix this textbut they will have to confess strategical
Fix this textand tactical mistakes which must have
Fix this textcost thousands upon thousands of
Fix this textvotes.
Fix this textFor example, thousands of young
Fix this textmen evaded the call to camp prepara-
Fix this texttory to the passing of conscription.
Fix this textThe Prime Minister wished to make
Fix this textregulations which would enable them
Fix this textto be identified at the polling booths
Fix this textand their votes be put aside for further
Fix this textconsideration. While he was, in
Fix this textSydney these regulations were placed
Fix this textbefore an Executive Council meeting
Fix this textin Melbourne at which Mr. Higgs,
Fix this textTreasurer, Senator Gardiner, Assistant
Fix this textMinister of Defence, Senator. Kussell,
Fix this textHonorary Minister ?all opponents of
Fix this textcompulsion?were present. They re-
Fix this textfused to pass them, maintaining that
Fix this textno elector should be intimidated in
Fix this textthe exercise of his franchise. When
Fix this textMr. Hughes heard of this he convened
Fix this texta special Executive in Sydney and put
Fix this textthe regulations through. His three
Fix this textcolleagues resigned dramatically on
Fix this textthe day before the poll was taken.
Fix this textPublic opinion inclined to them. The
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-9054037
Australia. High Commission (Great Britain). (1916). Anzac bulletin : issued to members of the Australian Imperial Forces in Great Britain and France by authority of the High Commissioner for Australia Retrieved May 9, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-9054037
Australia. High Commission (Great Britain). Anzac bulletin : issued to members of the Australian Imperial Forces in Great Britain and France by authority of the High Commissioner for Australia London: Published by the authority of the High Commissioner for Australia, 1916. Web. 9 May 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-9054037>
Australia. High Commission (Great Britain). 1916, Anzac bulletin : issued to members of the Australian Imperial Forces in Great Britain and France by authority of the High Commissioner for Australia Published by the authority of the High Commissioner for Australia, London viewed 9 May 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-9054037
{{Citation
| author1=Australia. High Commission (Great Britain).
| title=Anzac bulletin : issued to members of the Australian Imperial Forces in Great Britain and France by authority of the High Commissioner for Australia.
| year=1916
| section=201 v. : ill. ; 28 cm.
| issue=No.71 December 22, 1916
| location=London
| publisher=Published by the authority of the High Commissioner for Australia
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-9054037
| id=nla.obj-9054037
| access-date=9 May 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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