CONSCRIPTION



During World War One there were two attempts at bringing in conscription. These were both lead by Billy Huges with the first referendum being in 1916 and the second in 1917. However despite heavy support for conscription both referendas failed. It was believed by some people that those men eligable for war who had not enlisted should be made to in order to aid the Empire and their fellow men. Eligable men that were not enlisted were seen as selfish and cowardly and could be presented with a white feather to symbolise their cowardness. However it was also thought by many people that men should not be forced to go to war. It was also the case that strong, healthy men were needed at home for hard labour work such as working a farm. In these cases it would have proved very difficult to give up the men for war. Due to these different views on conscription Austalian society become divided on the issue and tested that 'social cohesion' that had formed as a results of the war.

The conscription issue deeply divided Australia with large meetings held both for and against. The Women's vote was seen as important with large women's meetings and campaign information from both sides aimed at women voters. The campaigning for the first plebiscite (A direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or refuse a proposal) was launched by Hughes at a huge overflow meeting at the Sydney Town Hall where he outlined the Government's proposals. This was followed by a huge pro-conscription meeting at the Melbourne Town Hall on September 21, 1916. The issue deeply divided the Labor party, with ministers such as Hughes and George Pearce, vigorously arguing the need for conscription for Australia to help the Allies win the war. They were supported by many within the party, including Labor's first prime minister, Chris Watson and NSW Labor Premier William Holman. Hughes denounced anti-conscriptionists as traitors, and a climate of bitter sectarianism (with most Catholics opposing conscription and most Protestants supporting it) developed. The Rest is History. By Dwayne
 * Divided Nation **

In 1916 the Australian Government, under Prime Minister William Morris Hughes, called for conscription of Australian men to supply replacements for the casualties; voluntary recruiting did not seem to be producing sufficient numbers to supply the front line. Hughes held a referendum in which the people of Australia had to indicate whether they supported or opposed conscription. The referendum caused great divisions in Australian society and within Hughes’ own governing Australian Labor Party. -cv
 * Conscription:** (also known as "The Draft", the "Call-up" or "National service") is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by an established authority. It is most often used in the specific sense of government policies that require citizens to serve in the armed forces.