Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), Saturday 7 April 1917, page 9


"WÏN THE WAR " PARTY.

FULL TEXT OF POLICY SPEECH.

OF THE PRIME MINISTER.

Tho following report ot the speech of : Min- Prime Minister, Mr. Muchea, at ; Hciuligu. on the 27th ol' March, is taken (tlom the Melbourne "Argus": -

I The Prime .Minister, Mr. Hughes, hod a

I rousing reception when he opened the i Win-thf-War campaign at thc Lyric i Theatre to-night. Long before the time

for beginning the meeting the building ¡«.1» crowded in cwry part, and a large j n;miller of people failed to gain admit-

tance, ll is estimated that there were

.,\.-v :iiMiu [ii-ople present. When Mr. Hugill-, appeared on the platform lie was ¡ cul Imwast H-.illy cheered. Thc m»>or of ; ti» lily l< 'ounvitlur Beebe) occupied the

i - .iii'. Hcsiiles Mr. Hughes, there were on

j th.' platform the three Win-the-War

.Semite candidates (Lieutenant-colonel

Hulton, Air. George fairbairn, and Mr. \v". Piain). Tlie President of thc Senate iN'iialJir < livens), Senator Russell ¡Assis-tant .Ministerl, Ur. John Thomson (whip of the .Ministerial parly), Mr. A. S.Rogers (Wannon), Mr. G. A. Maxwell (the MiuL*terinl candidato for Fawkner), Mr.. Ü Smith, M.L.A., Sir .lohn tjuick, Mn-. D. V. IjOüariiB, the mayor of Eaglehawk (Coun-cillor Ralph), and Mrs. Whitham, of I'Vhuea, a tonner leading platform worker of the Labour party.

Tlie Mayor (Councillor Beebe) said that it wus his pleasing duty as chairnian of that magnificent meeting-the finest meet-ing ever held in tlie Bendigo electorateto introduce thc 'l'rime Minister of Aus-tralia, Mr. Hughes. (Cheers.) Mr. Hughes came as the standard-bearer of his party -the Win-the-War party-and it was his intention to unfold through them to thc whole of Australia and tlie Empire the policy of tlie Win-the-War party. Mr. Hnghes should bc given a patient hearing. A most important issue was now agitating thc minds of the public, and if was a picot compliment to Bendigo that Mr Hughes should unfold his policy there.

Mr. Hughes, who was received with pro-longed cheers, said

1 did not anticipate when I Inst ad-dressed the citizens of Bendigo in this place that I should within a few weeks staud before them as thc head of a Gov-

ernment appealing to the people of thc Commonwealth, and as candidate for thc suffrages of tbe electors of Bendigo. But in these days events move so rapidly that although measured by time it is but a few »eeks since 1 last spoke to you, the days I have been so crowded with matters of much moment that a great space of time

I seems to have elapsed since I bat stood

on this platform.

Milich has indeed happened in the inter-val Tlie Government which 1 then bad the honour to lead has disappeared, and a new one, composed of men of different partier, bid. united on the war and all that is necessary to achieve victory, has taken its place. Circumstances made such s change necessary. Since I last stood here urging yon and all my fellow-citizens to jay aside their differences in order that Australia might more efficiently do ber port in this great war, abundant proof lins boen afforded to all, save the wilfully blind, that there is among us a section upon whose ears such appeals full like seed upon stony ground. Men are to be judged not only by words but by conduct, and there is but one way by which an Australian who loves his country can prove his patriotism in this great hour, when bis country and all that free men value are in deadly peril, and that is liv putting aside nil differences of party, class, or creed, and, standing side by side with his fellow-citizens, doing ali within his power to overcome thc enemy. It is onitc clear that this section will not take that way. To them the integrity of thi Umpire counts for little ; their sectional interests for everything. (Applause.)

Caucus Party Tactics.

" Sir, the Government hss appealed to tlie-.people of Australia because it found that in tlie face of the attitude of the Caucus party effective government was impossible. As it declined to retain office unless it could do that which our present circumstances imperatively demand, there remained only the course which we have taken. None other was indeed possible, rjie use which the Caucus party made of Its majority in tlie Senate thwarted all attempts to carry on,JJiic Government of the country. When asked by thc late Government, comprised wholly of .Labour men, to grant such supply as would enable members to take part in a recniitingearapàign, they point-blank refused. They openly declared that tho Government should not bc allowed to go into recess ; they boasted that by thc uso of tile ma-jority in thc Senate they would prevent, nie going to thu Imperial War Conference to represent Australia. Time after time they took thc control of the business out of the hands of the Government. Their every act and ever}' utterance was charac-terised by a reckless and bitter hostility. All this of course was manifested long before the formation of thc present Gov-ernment. It is with great reluctance that thc Government lias taken this step of appealing to the electors. But the action of the Caucus party has unhappily made any other impossible. (Applause.)

'Jlie Government proposed tu extend tho )ifc of Parliament so that Australia should be represented ut tho Imperial War Conference, at which representatives from every part of the Empire are now gathered. Tlie Prime Minister of every-one of thc seU-govcrning dominions had been invited to take part in the delibera-tions of the Imperial War Cabinet to dis-cuss tlie conduct of Ul« war, thc terms of peace, thc future of thc Pacific, and other great, questions of absolutely vital im-portunée to the walfwre of the Commonwcsltli and of t!ie Empire, it is surely not ton much to say that at this great W.-u- Conference, held ag it is under the .lurk shadow of a war which thronten-; every part of thc Kinpiiv with destruc-tion. Australia, ought to ho represented. What- the British Civerii": -l.t. 1ms created is in effect a rca) Empire ' >';ir Council, in which fer the first tilrc ,nr history the voices of Ibo self-govci dominions can be hc.iid. The other dominions have all sent their représentât ¡vis--their voici-.s will be heard. Tim voice nf Australia, this country whose sons have dyed the rocks and sand of Gallipoli «nd the great battle-fields of France with their hearts' blood, will bc silent. What a humiliation bo every loyal Australian this is-that this country, whose sons by their valour and heroism destruye/) the Inst German cruiser in thc Ind ¡un Ocean, torc down thc Ger

man flag from New Guinea, made til« name of Australia honoured amongst thc nations of the earth, should bc thc only Dominion shut out from this great epochmaking conference ; this gaUicriug which «ill decide the future of the Pacific that great ocean whose destiny is inseparably associated with burs ¡ wb'ica will materi-ally shape tlie eonduet of the war ; which

« ¡tl lay down the terms upon which paace

«ill be made ; which will decide upon what lines trade after the war is to be conducted and developed. What will our soldiers who have borne the heat and burden nf thc day, who have endnred, fought, bled, and sacrificed all things in order fl;;«, the honour of Anstrnlia might he upheld-that victory might be achieved --say when they iearn that their country is not to share in thew vitally important. df-)ibcr«lions ? Wîiat do you, the electors, say ? What am any loyal Australian say of a party caning itself A Hamlin o who thus deliberatoly inflicts this humiliation and injury lipon Australia ? Tho Govern-ment, I say. sir. has appealed to the electurr. to elect a Parliament that represents aDd can give effect to thc desires of the Australian people to do their doty by thc Empire. And 1 firmly believe that Bach a Parliament will be elected by thc people.

Who is to Govern T

At ÜIÍB election the people have to de-cide by whom they will be governedender what banner they will stand, what policy they desire. The two parties seek-ing the suffrages of the people are as far asunder as night from day on matters vital to the welfare of the eonntry. Their Ideals are distinct-their outlook, their objective. The party that 1 have the honour to lead stands openly and freely for the Empire. Its members are proud to be citizens of thc greatest confedera-tion of free men and women that the world has even seen. They recognise their great obligation to Britain ; they recog-nise that they owe all their liberties, their free institutions of government,, their peaceful and happy occupation of this great isalnd continent to the protection that Britain has given us ever since thc first British colony was established here. They recognise that they cannot be true citizens of Australia and at thc same time be hostile to or indifferent to tile fate of Britain.

Sir, we believe in the British Emnjh-e because it stands for liberty ; because tt has given us all that we have ; because it has protected us all our lives ; because it uow protects us ; because we know that without ita protection in this war we should long ago have become a German colony ; that our lot wonld have been that of Belgium. We are for the Em-pire because the Empire is at once our sword and our shield. It is the greatest guarantee of the world's peace, of tru3 civilisation. We are for the Empire be-cause we arc true to Australia, to liberty, to ourselves. And because of this wc di not now ask whether a man is Labour of Liberal, b'it only whether he is an Aus-tralian, prepared to put Australia first and sweep all sectional interests aside. This is where we stand. What of om op-ponents ! Sir, I shall not insult th» in-telligence of thc electors by dwelling apon that which is obvious to all who are not wilfully blind. It is, I say, unfortunately only too true that many of those who are opposed to us do not share these views. Some are violently hostile to Britain, sneering at the Empire, and all that it stands for : some, their vision clouded by gross misrepresentation .and lies, think it punible to bc loyal to Australia, yet in-different if not/hostile to the fate of the Empire.

" Bed Flag of Revolution." ,

Some openly revile everything wc hold sacred and dear, declaring themselves as having no God, no country, uo Sag, save the red flag of revolution. Rome mis-takenly put sectional interests before those of the country in which they livethe country to which they owe everything. The party then who oppose us is made up for the most part of men either hostile to or lukewarm on the war, indifferent to the Empire or openly opposed to it, men clamouring for premature peace, men who forget that their first duty is t<i Aus-tralia, who put other interests before that of their country. And tbis part)- is sbso

I lutcly controlled by men who arc not

seeking the suffrages of thc people ; b.v seeret executives of persons not respon-sible lo the electors. And these men, who are really the Caucus party, since they control it, are almost without exception against thc Empire, in favour of prema-ture peace, caring for r.othing but their own selfish and narrow interests. Among all of these sections tluit make up thc forces behind thc Caucus party not one stands for t hc spirit of Australian patriot-ism, of Australian nationality. They have no constructive policy upon which they can stand, tor they are not masters of their own actions ; they arc indeed in-capable of carrying any sueb policy into effect. They appoaj to all that is narrow, mean, and selfish : they come to destroy, not to built up : they preach a gospel o'. din ord between all classes and sections ; tiiev chant a hvmn of hate against mv

self.

Sir, let us he perfectly frank fin tlie matter--between all those aud us (here is a great gulf lixed. If the people want to bc governed hy such raen, let them" de-clare it. but nt least they shall «ot do so without l;;io\ ¡Hg what it is these men stand foi. Wc place thc war first, and everything else after. (Cheers.! We believe that it is not only the duty of Australia to stand by thc Empire " to th > lust man and the last shilling" if need bp, but, that in no other way is it possible for Australia to be saved. (Cheers.)

Since I hist spoke to yon events lave moved with giant strides. The fury of the titanic conflict luis, indeed. ?n far from abating, gathered fresh strength with every pissing day. imlil now at th'.a 'erv moment the whole world threatens to,be engulfed. Aiaerira is trembling on thc verge of wnr. liven Clima seems likely tn be drawn info tlie struggle. W-> are to-dny, so far from having won our way out of the maelstrom of war into th'.1 calm, smooth waters of peace, in thc verv vortex of its awful fury.

Crisis in the War.

T snid then, and 1 repeat now, ill plain «oran, that wc have conic to the crisis in this great world war; to the point when both combatants ure girding their loins fir the lust, thc decisive round. Upon the issue Aiislmliu's for-tunes literally hang. Now I do not u»e v ords loosely by way of hyperbole, but

! in all earnestness, meaning thal the pre-

sent safety and future welfare of Aus? tralla and of every man. womnn, and

child, not of enemy origin, within its gates depend absolutely upon Germany's military power being completely crushed. Mark that I snv "GcrmanyV military l*owcr," not " tlie people of Germany.

ThiB being the position in which wc_ find onirselves, what is our duty as citizens of the freest democracy in thc world, tims called upon to fight for our lives and liberty f There can bc no doubt as to what it is in tho minds of any loyal Australian. (Hear, hear.I

Pince 1 spoke to you on this platform there has bern a retirement hy the Ger-mans on thc Western front. f do not wish to underestimate its value. But WT* should not delude ourselves into be-

lieving it to bc other tlian what it ls- ; n strategic retirement dictated by mill- j tnTy reasons. lt may be followed by a | great victory by tie Allies: but in itself j it is no more than 1 taevo said, a retire- |

ment which wc are no more entiik-d to call a defeat than were thc Germans to su regard thc glorious retreat from Mons by thc-British ormy or the evacuation of Gflltrpoli by thc Australian and Allied

forces.

The fact is that the two opposing forces are preparing for the greatest hattie ever Been on this earth; they ar» manonvring for position, strengthening the weak links in thc chain ot their

fiTW«, getting ready for the supreme j h<iur of trial. The submarine menace

is more deadly than ever. We have come j

to tlie crisis in this war. Tlie need for men luis not lessened; the need for Aus-tralia playing her part ns be<»mes a nation of free people is not affects hy recent events. Happily the casualties suffered by the Australian divisons dur-ing thc winter months have been ex-tremely light, not more indeed than twenty per cent of what was anticipated, so that we are for the time being in n n-.nck better positon so far as mea are concerned flian was contemplated. Yet if the war continues for many months

the need for men will bc acute.

A woman in the gallery.-Why don't you go to the war Í (Laughter.)

The Chairman.-T understand the com-

mittee reserved the gallery for ladies. (Bcnewed laughter.)

Conscription Policy.

Mr. Hughes-Thc people of Australia hare decided tínvt tiley will not resort tu compulsion to fill the ranks of the Australian divisions at the front. The Government accepts the verdict of the people as given on October 28 last. it will not enforce nor attempt to euforte conscription, either by regulation Or statute, during thc life of the forthcom-ing Parliament. If, however, national safety demands it, the question will again be referred to the people. That is the policy of tlie Government on this great question. lt is clear and definite. The Government accepts the verdict of the electors on October SS, and appeals to tho patriotism of thc people

to inhold thc honour of Aus-tralia by maintaining tho Australian divisions at their full fighting strength by voluntary enlistment, lt uppeals to

the manhood of Australia to strike a blow for this their country. It appeals to every lover of liberty who is fit tj take his place in tlie ranks to go and eland by the side of those heroic men whose glorious deeds gain them fresh laurels every passing day. It appeals to every loyal Australian not to let the supreme sacrifice made by thc thousands of young Australian lads who have offered ap their lives on the altar of their country be in vam. (Great cheering.)

I bave said that this Government is compossd of men of diverse party creeds, who have united to win the war. As yon know. I hare been all mt public life a member of the Labour party. I have fought its battles all over Aus-tralia, and in this very place, where I appeared in the interests of the gentle-man who does me thc honour to oppose me in this election. (Laughter.) Be-fore tile war I was a strong party man. and fought in my party's interests. When war broke out put party aside and re-membered only that Australia and the Empire wore fighting a life and death struggle. (Great cheering.)

Let us, fir*t, then, go back to the genesis of the late Parliament, which sprang into being amidst the very flames of conflict.. (lt wa* a war Parliament. 7t was elected after this mighty world war had raged a full month. It was elected by a people resolute to prosecute the war with the utmost vigour, and to do al) things necessary to sid the Empire in that purpose. Every member stood anti TOS elected on this policy. Kot enc would have been elected had he dared to advocate a policy other than thal. Tile members of the Labour party were al! elected on auf! pledged to that policy,

labour's Pledge.

Sfr. Fisher, the then leader of the party, speaking at Colac, pledged Aus-tralia's "last mau and last shilling" in this great struggle. These »ords, which have liecouic historic, are surely suffi-ciently sweeping; but the more delibe-rate terminology of the Labour mani-festo, if possible, pledges thc Labour party and every member of it still more definitely to a policy running the gamut of all things necessary to achieve vic-tory. Il said:

''Our interests and our very exis-tence are bound up with those of the ISnipire. In time of war half measures nie worst than none, lt returned with a majority, we skull pursue with the utmost vigour und determination every course necessary for thc defence of the Commonwealth and tlie Kmpire in any and every contingency.

'? Regarding as wc do such a policy a« tho first duty of Government al this juncture, thc electors may give their support to tho Labour party with th-; utmost conlidcnce. And this we say. further, that whatever be the verdict if thc people, we shall not waver from the position taken up by .Mr. l'ishcr on behalf of OUT party, namely, that in this hour of peril there are no parties, sn far as tile defence of thc Common wealth and Empire arc concerned, and that the Opposition will co-operate with the Government, and stand behind them as one man. The position then is that if the electors give us a majority we shall expect Mr. Cook and his sup-porters to stand behind us. On the other hand, if Mr. Cook bas a majority wc shall stand behind him in all things necessary for thc defence of thc Com-monwealth and thc Empire."

Who can rcad^ these words and doubt

that thc labour party »ra« elected to j

prosecute the uar with every ounce of j ! energy, «paring neither men nor money ;

Wno can duubt that Labour was pledged Í to a policy siibonunating all things to I tht war, to a policy that lioldly declared

that " in this hour of peril tliere arc no

partie* t " Who can doubt that Labour | was chosen because thc electors believed j tliat the party would give effect to this j

policy ? Who can doubt that but for ;

this belief u«t oiu> of that party would j have been elected Ï This, then, was thc j contract made by the Labour party in ! H'U with the elector*. Upon it they were '

ejected. livery member of tlie preseul ] Caucus party was pledgcd»to pursue with] thc utmost vigour every course neces ' Bary for the defence of the Umpire inj every contingency. Not one of thc men, who now denounce me wonid have been j elected if thc electors had thought he was against the war or against the Em-1 pire. (Loud cheers.) What is their jit-, tttudc towards the war to-day } Who can read that spineless, emasculated tbini; issued yesterday bombastically paraded as the Labour manifesto, and doubt that the attitude of thc Caucus party 'to-wards thc war is ot best lukewarm. They regard the Empire and all that relates lo it as a mere side i-^ue.

A Voice.-Shame. '

Mr. Hughes.-They care only for their

narrow sectional interest."

Labour and thc Referendum.

Now let us turn to a renew of the circumstances responsible for thc position in August last. Upon Mr. Fisher'» ac-ceptance of tlie High Conunissionershij) in September, IMS, I was unanimously I elected lender of the Labour party. I

had been, as most ol you know, a mem-ber of every Lalwnr Ministry from tile first in 1«M, and I think it wilt be admitted even by my enemies that 1 was chosen us leader because it was thought 1 was the best man for tlie position. (Loud cheero) Well, after i my return from Great Britain I found

that recruiting had fallen-we were not getting one-half the necessary quotawhile the Empires demand -for mun had greatly increased. Thc position in wilie'.: the Empire and her allies then stood was grave in thc extreme. Tlie British Amiv Council took the step, absolutely unpre-cedented in the history ol the Empire, of requesting tlie Government to maintain the five Australian divisions ut their full strength. There had been desperate lighting at Po-zieres, and the losses amongst tlie Aus-tralian forces were very heavy, there being nearly 20.000 casualties for Sep-tember, Iftlli. The outlook was black, the need for men most acute.

I. have already nierrw to the attitude of certain sections of the party of which 1 was leader. Notwithstanding that, every member of them had been elected to prosecute tlie war with vigour., to ncoguise no party during the war, and that none would, have been erected unless it had been clearly understood that they in tended to do things. As time |insscd it became evident that certain influences were at wort: which caused some tu lu:

caiiic otienly hostile, ami others to be-come lukewarm to lite war. 1 had m face the position. 1 »a« elected to pro-secute the war with vigour-, to do all things necessary to hcip thc Empire. 1 was the leader of a party every menibcr uf width was elected lo do these thing.-,. 1 was, a leader to «Loni the iieople ul Australia looked to see them through tb s war. (Ijtíui- cheem.) I faced the posi-tion ; 1 did not ereute lt. 1 wished then, and wish now, that circumstances lin I IM-CII diircrent ; but as thc leader ol' a great party, elected to do wiuit was ne ces-isry to tte dolli' lu the interest* ol Australia and thc Liupire, 1 should lim < been a poor craven if i hud turned aside from t)ie dear pall) of duly. Loud and prulongod cheering.)

Compulsory service inside the Common-wealth had long been tile law. lt wa* one of the main plunks of thc Ijibunr pin!form. Thc referendum is also a plank, perhaps the basic one, of that plat-form. Those nf us who put the war first, who stood by the pledge given to thu electors in Mr. Fisher s uuinifeitu, say bul one nay by which their couutry and their party could Us ,*uvcd. As Labour men .und demoera!*. we t-ubtnittod 1 thu question of compulsory oversea -er

vice to the elecluro. Fur Ibis wc have been expelled, de.nonnci'd as traitors, vili-fied, covered with venomous und cowardk abuse. What is our offence, nur crime !

Why Were We Expelled 1

Xot because we had broKcii any pledge* made tn the party or to the electors- - -

A Voice.-Yon were doing your dirty. (Loud applause.)

Mr. Hughe*.-Not because we hud vio luted un> plank of the platform : not for anything we said during tlie conscrip-tion campaign : not for thc so-called ie

filiation at tho referendum ! AU thew things aro afterthoughts, excuses ; they bupjiened after our expulsion '. We were expelled because we dared, to speak and aet as our consciences «ietated. We vma-e expelled, not because we voted again-l any plank of tbe Labour plat-form, but because in tbe gravest crisis in which thc Commonwealth and the Em-pire haw ever been involved wc pre-ferred to stand for national rather than party intercuts. In short, wc were exI prlied because wc did not break the

\ pledge that thc 1-abour party gave to

thc electors on ¡September ú, 1014. (Loud appluime.l We were Hound by those pledge-, by our conscience, .and by our duty to mir country-(loud applause) -rather than to that Junta which hus shown itself manifestly disloyal to the Empire and to Australia. (Loud ap: pt&usc.) The pledge was that thc Lab-

our party wonk! * pursue with the utmost vigour and determination every course necessary for tbe defence of the Com-monweal Hi and th» Empire io any and every contingency." When Australia, the Empire, and liberty,were threatened with destruction, we acted as Austral ians who stood loyally by thc Empire, ai lovers of liberty, praparea to sacrifice all things for country jud liberty. I was expelled because I chose to tread the narrow path of duty, lt bas proved a hard and bitter one. I was under no illusions as to thc consequences of my action. 1 kaw thal it meant ostracism, breaking with an organisation to which I had devoted my life, incurring the bitter implacable hatred of a powerful section of the community. I knew thal 1 risked not only my position as leader, but my very existence as' a public man. 1 saw j quite clearly that f was turning my back

laion a safe, easy, and profitable path I which thc unremitting efforts of years ! had cleared for me. I had bul to tciupo! ri»-, to pose as the patriot, and drug my conscience, and all would have been we!) for me. 1 f-bould have been in un impregnable position.

The country waited anon my word. I was quite free to hold roy tongue, to pre-tend to listen to the voice of thc junta,

rather than tbe voice of duty, to bendthe knee as these gentiemen have done.

A Voice.-You could not. (lxmd and prolonged applause.)

Hr. Hughes.- 1 should have been the uucluillcngcd leader of a great party: and have remained su for years. I could have prolonged the life ot Parliament, and those very men who denounced tn* the other day would have welcomed nc with open arma My position would have been safe fur myself, but what of

Australia t

I Voices.-Ah '. Ali ! (Lund applause.)

Mr. Hughes.-Power, ease, »«sured position were before mc. 1 had but to liolj my tongue, tu temporise, to sand-bag my coii-ciencc, tu obey the junta as the majority of the porty have done, and for me all would have Itocn weill As you know. 1 did not do this. 1 could not do il. 1 should have despised my-self, inn! all loyal Australian- would have des|iÍ!-ed inc if I lind sold nry country for ii ines* of pottage. ( f.oml and lon;i applause.)

T.nlioi'i- lîeciird.

I have been all my fife an advocate of the c-iiivc ul" labour. I have striven

with nil my strength to serve its intercst>. My etlurls luive nut been bar-ren, but lime burne much fruit. 1 in-vite all those who vcjioiuoutiv denounce inc lo »lion- fluir record of things donu fur l.abuiu and for Australia geiicrullv, und bl thc people niab-h them with iniiic. 1 invite thc electors to contrast Hie rScnrdh of the Labour men who stand with inc in federal ami !*late spheres --Heh men s< Spcu.e. .1. C. Watson, Lauuuid. I'cariT. i ¡¡ven*. Ilolinuii, Lynch, Vaughan. TluuiKK. Kurie, and ul hers . willi those of nm opponents. On the pulit.ioal mid industrial fields uf battle 1 ami thc mell who now «laud with me ha\c ever been in the forefront of the 1'rity. Wv fought for Labour « hen every mini's hand was against it, when ninnv

of those men who now deuounoo me vere ita bitter opponents. Wo did not come ? into the Labour movement, aa many of

tfafse caop-foilowexs of labour hare done, to moke something ont of it, but when to be a Labour maa waa to be a pa-riah, a political leper. Through all its TiiRssitadcs I have been Ita faithful adhe cent. Tb it I have given the best that (a iii me. I and my friends believe in

tie cause of the people. We hare served

their casse all our tiros. We are workfog for St now, and X beocvo that tho areal mass of the people of Australia welievo that the conreo wo have taken fud intend to pursue to tho and is nat only the right my to eave tho country «nd help tiie Empire, bot «lao tte right May to sase democracy and the Labour tnovement. I am glad to say that every day, from oil parts of Australia, abundant proofs that the people approve the course I have taken and are prepared to support this Government are commg to hand. And these are not confined to citizens outside industrial unionism, ' bot include very many of tito most stalwart of tho sup-portera of organised LaJxxrr. Whole

vidons have come mr to our side en1 .IBM, sad I am ' confldftnt that those unionista of Australia «no put loyalty to Australia, and the Empire first, who love liberty Md hate tyranny, and who see what is plain to everyone not blind. ' namely,' tba* the great organisation of Labour has been captured by ft narrowminded, disloyal section, who wish to serve their own selfish purposes, will sup-port thc cause for which they stand. Sir, I stand here to-night as the leader of ah that is best in the Labour movement of ' lAnetralia. Tien men who «tana

?with me, whose names have been ^watchwords in the camp of Labonr for ?years, have given their whole uves to the canse of Labonr, and are comrades in this «nat fight by whose side any "jabour nam might be proud to stand.

j Let me say a word about tte present

,'Govennnent, for whom I now speak. It ««Frings from the loins of war. It is " composed of men of varying shades of

polite*! opinion who in thia, the gravest "trials in the history at their country, i end. of the Empire, put their country .' before party. Its purpose is to do what

teVer is necessary to enable Australia to

imio tte Empire to win tile war. It is aj - Virar Government. Recognising that thc

foundations of our national existence . art in grave danger, it deems it impera-

tive that party differences should be for. 'gotten in order that we may face the

. enemy witt a united front. In this dark boor, when liberty end tte British

Empire are locked in death-grips with. , Prussian' military despotism, when every ^Brittni, - Frenchman, Russian, Italian, f Belgian stand «Ide by side in defence of

' country ^hd- liberty, we1 who ' yesterday Iwcre in the party camps of Labour and

liberalism now forget all things save that we are Australians, and that Aus-fall ia. and aQ-that .»« hold dear are in ifïAve 'danger.'- But the* Caucus party ebands sullenlv aloof, as if the wat had

T^ :ic*Mtf¡ed *tt ttlngs, as if united action. 1 werejnot imperative. Why, T say.,did j'noji''that party accept tte invitation to ' join' hands with us and with tte Liberals , tojform a National Government, in which

. al1 parties should be represented, so that

/{the. full force, of tte nation should-bc be-,,

i hind .its war'policy? They cannot deny

l^tfcát if they had done so the interests

'of Labcar would have been insured, for, '?toritt. bott sections thus brought together, ' 'JLabour would^ hare had a substantial

Ixnajority in such a Government. Why ? fair, hatred of myself is the explanation; Hie junta cares notting whether the brights of Labour are protected or not. lit cares only to satisfy its blind, furious benger against a man who has refused to Verve its narrow, selfish, eeotional pur-pose.-' Because they wish to crush me they have turned their backs on this

{world that tte Labour party is worthy ito bo a National party. (Loud . apjplause.) That party will go down to ali time as the party that failed Australia in her hour of need. (Tumultuous ap-plause.) I do not stead here to apolo-gise for tte fact ttat men hitherto divided' by political opinions have been (drawn into intimate association by this War. Our attitude needs neither apology WOT explanation. To any man in whose breast the spirit of patriotism is not <|dead, our attitude is thc only one poskible. You have been told-you will bc »old adnauseum-4iy those who, in order to retain their scats, speak as the junta (directs, that the interests of Labour are »-tot safe in our hands, that thc workers lof Australia, in order to protect them-

selves, must support thc Caucus pnrlyj I Ithot tte Commonwealth War Govern- ! taient is not to be trusted to look after tho intreste of thc worker. As 1 shall

beal later in the campaign at greater length with this point, I need only treat it herc in a general Tray, First let us oak ourseh-es what precisely tte Caucus Jiaxy means by this cry. They mean that a Government in which Liberals arc included will destroy Labour legislation and those safeguards which Labour has. created to protect its interests, transfer taxation from the shoulders of thc rich land pluve it upon those of the masses. {They mean, in short, flint the policy of Hhc War Government will destroy " the fruits of the policy of the Labour Govern-ments which preceded it That it will tafrandon the war time profits mid thc oldi-ng*; pensions; that it will repeal such Ineasurcs ns the maternity (bonus, that it .will destroy the principle of preference to unionists. That shortly is what they mean. Now let nie shortly answer their charges.

First I say that it is obviously a shara fcbarge. All this talk about the dangers tc be apprehended ¡rom thc presence of Liberals in thc present Government is J)alpalily insincere. All tlu-v say ubout the present Government they said about

the last, which was comprised wholly of

Labour men. Tiley denounced mc then: they denounce me now. They snid I had betrayed the workers when J lirotight in thc Referendum Bill long before I said one word in the conscription campaign. They denounced me then when I was their ji.nder. when my only offence was that.

Win-the-War Ministry.

A Shnm Charge.

having the power to introduce conscrip-tion by régulation and bludgeon tho country into accepting it by force, I acted as a true Democrat and resorted to one of che main planks of the i-abour platform-that great charter and guaran-tee of rule by thc people-thc referen-dum. They did this because they were bidden to do so by their masters, the secret juntas, who told them plainly that if they dared to disobey their seats would be forfeited. They toid them that plainly, not rn any roundabout way, not by hints, but by plain, definite state-ments. During the conscription cam-paign men who were my followers, men who had beslavered mc but a few weeks before with fulsome adulation, covered me with abuse, charged me with having been bribed to bring in conscripton, as now they charge me with haring bribed others to serve my own purposes.

A voice.-It has not hurt you very much. (Laughter and cheers.)

air. Hughes.-Tluvt is the first answer to the charge that the present Govern-ment is not to be trusted to do justice to the workers. It is itself a fairly com-plete one. The next is no less convinc-ing. These very men who denounce the presence of Hr. Cook end his followers in the Government which I have the honour to lead were not only wiling that he should form a Government to replace the Hughes Labour Government, bot ap-proached him quietly and gave him posi-tive assurances that if he did eo they -these Caucus champions of the wor-kers !-would sirpport him and his Government. (Cheers and laughter.) They cannot deny it. Anything so long es they can carry out the instruction of thc junto, and wreak their vengeance upon me. They cannot deny it In any case their denial will not serve them; it can be proved. Yet now the very men who were prepared to support a Liberal Government, with ail Liberals in it, are trying to persuade the workers that the present' Government-half of which is composed of Labour men-are not to be entrusted with power, as the interest« of the masses are not safe in

their hands. What canting, hypocritical humbug this is 1 That is the second answer to their charge. It is in Itself overwhelming, but títere isa third, and it is fina! and conclusive.

Lafbbur Legislation Safe.

This Government does not come to de-stroy Labour legislation, or under the corer of the war. take'ad van tage of the workers. It is a Government formed to deal with the war to win the war. It it non-party, not merely in name but In very deed. 'And eo I say it will not touch one atone in the temple of Labour legislation. It will not touch the mater-nity allowance, old-age pensions, or any ether acts brought in hy Labour govern-ments. These men who have joined "lands with me are not seeking to take advantage of tile war to deal a partisan blow. This is a non-partisan Government, Wo put the war first, and we do not pull down one party's work under the pretence that we are non-party. Wo arc nonparty. We are Australian. We arc men inspired by a sincere de-sire to save our country. (Loud cheers.) Under the Caucus party's system of government as laid down by the recent conferences, the men who rule-or would rule if they had a majority in the Parlia-

ment-are not memberB of Parliament at

all, not men elected by the people.

Secret Inner Council.

They are men of whom the people know nothing. A number of obscure persons lit in secret conclavo and issue instruc-tions to tho members of the Caucus party, und upon these instructions the Caucus nets.' Now soe what this means. In

plain English it means this, that you arc buying a pig in a poke, and the pig may turn out to be not even a very poor pig, luit a dead cat. (Laughter.) You will be told that the Labour platform and the Labour party are the same as they always w.'n\ Nothing can bc further from thc tr:::i. There is no more resemblance bsituei'ii tho Caucus party as it is to-day

a:.d thc Ijobour party as it was than there i* between slavery and freedom. Under things as they were, the selected candi-date of the Labour party stood on a plat-form which he knew and accepted, and which the electors knew and could judge whether it suited them or not.*"" This platform could not be altered during th.i life of the Parliament by Labour con-ference, executive, or Caucus. It . was a solemn contract entered into between tho electors and the man elected, and notlung could add to it, take from it, or amend it in any way. For example, if the plat-form upon which a member of thc Laliour party was elected contained a plank pro-viding for an exemption of £0000 under the Federal land tax, the elector who voted for the Labour candidate knew that not only his own member, but thc whole of the labour party, would vote against any attempt to lower that exemption during thc life of the Parliament.

That wa« thc Labour party as it used to be. Hut things arc very different now. Then every Labour man was a man ; not as lie is now, a marionette whose strings were pulled hy the executive, or a phonograp repeating the decision of the junta. Now the outside executives absolutely control every act, every word, of the Labour members. It does not matter what thc Labour candidate promises, it does not matter what platform he stn nds i n, he must dp whatever the executives

teri him to do. If he says on tho publie,

platform that ho is in favour of retaining tile £5000 exemption on thc land tax, end thc junta tells him, ns they probably 'lill, to vote against it, he will have to do so. All this is limply proved by the relent nets of thc onside executives, both in regard to conscription and other nuitters. Thc executives regard tile member Hs ii scrvairl to be ordered about nt will. The '. Worker " of "l.iivli I. in :t pnr.igriip't entitled "A lighter ! ill mi the :..,!!. ticiau," sn vs : .

"But Labour "ill continu» lu tighten the hold, lt hus kunu the lessons

taught by bitter experience, lt has de-creed that politciaus aro merely tho

legislative, executive f>r>rv:iiiti> of !'.

workers. Jina lh<it tin- w-rviiuts must IK : Wnuie thc masters, or imagine then; selves to lie tile masters.

"Mr. \V. M. Hughes .loes md perr.i'l his nrivnte. seeretary to c!iel:ite Hushes'* programme, neither dees Hobnail t.ike his orders from his understrappers. Nor , does tlie Tory press allow its employees

to deeidc its policy.

"And thc Liiboiir movement is not going to he an exception to this pound mic Selecting tts servants, il luis the right ta instruct those servants ns il thinks tit. And with the wisdom of ex-

perience it is going to exercise tliat| right-a hit more severely than hither-

to."

(Laughter.1 Do you think that men who would vote, against their solemn convic-tions when the life anil dis¡í!¡ of Austra-lia were at stake would hesitate to vots

against a twopenny-halfpenny pledge like that ? And what au abject and humiliat-ing admission «TIS that made by Senator Stewart last week in the Semite. ficnalnr Stewart was amongst the most ardent ni i onscriptionisls ; in :>nd ont of SIMPO» he advocated it. He believed in thc principle; He believed that it was absolutely vital, and that it would, be applied ; he sup-ported nie in the party Toom ; yet he the junta." Why, sir. men calling thcinsflvc* free have stood up in th.it 0:tticii5 room Just before I left, it, their inclina-tions, their convictions, and their con-science afl urging them to support the )>olicy 1 put forward, yet detering thal because the executive hud decided other-wise they must obey, fur thy recognise'! them as their musters. Great beaven, sir. that »riv man, n representative of this free democracy, sltouíd so humiliate him-self as to call snell men as comprise these juntas his masters !

JIcu, ifoney. Products

lt is our duty to help the Umpire in this struggle, lt is indeed imperative to do so, for only by helping the Empire can wc save Australia. As 1 have said, thcr-: are roany ways in which we can help tho Empire-with men. with money, with our products. As to men. now that thc peoplv Iiavo decided against compulsion, thc cal! of duty, of patriotism,, of Australia, of Empire, must reach the oars of all our young men. Let them go forth and strik.! n Wow for thc land that has bred there. Let thom draw the sword in defence o'. those liberties with which this country has eo richly endowed them. (Applause.) Sow let me turn to other means by which Australia can aid thc Empire. Tliis war is not as other wars, merely between the armed forces of the belligerents ; it is a war between nations. Every man and votes and works against it ! Why 7 He cause, in his own words, " he had to obey woman is or ought to be a fighter, strugg-ling for his or her life. Every resource of the Empire, thc services of every man and woman able to do some useful worlc aro needed in order that wc should bj victorious. Now thc most effective mean? !/y which Australia can help thc Empire, apart from sending men to fight, is to send from her great storehouse metals for munitions and products to feed and clothe the Imperial and Allied armies and the people of Britain.

Sir, I have said this war ie a war be-tween nations, not merely between armies Tlu> question of food supplies is absolutely vital. Coon an ample supply of food all depends. If Germany falls she will fall because she can no longer feed her people. I Though her legions stand like a granite I wall against the furious attacks of thc I Allin, yet their valour will avail nothing

unless the 120,000,000 of people in the Central Empires'can bc fed. And what ls true of Germany is not less true of Itritain. Unless her 45,000,000 aro fed from oversea nothing can save her ; though she pile munitions high, thong" the roar of her great guns burst the heavens, though the fury of her attacks tear large gaps in the ranks of the enemy, unless the 45,000,000 in Britain are fed, victory will glide from her nerveless hand. Tho blockade of Germany by the Hritish fleet ; the submarine campaign by GcrI many arc daggers aimed at the very heart

I of permany and Britain. Which shall j strike first V That is the question- Upon the answer hang our destiny and that nf the whole civilised world. Australia's duty in this great crisis is obvious ; wc must make available in increasing quanti-ties tin products necessary to enable thc Empire and its Allies to "win the war. Freight is a vital factor, but over that wc hare Jr, control. Over thc food sup-plies whicli will save thc Empire, if they can bnt be safely carried oversea, we have full control, ]<et us then endeavour by organised efforts to increase our food and general products to help thc Empiro in this war and during the. period of recon-struction which will follow on the beete of war, and at the same time we shall greatly develop this our glorious heritage (Applause.)

Wheat Pool Operations.

Now, having stated what wc must do; let mc declare tho policy of thc Govern ment on- the matter. Almost from thc

inception of the war it became apparent that without Government action grave, il not fatal, consequences would result to the producers through thc dislocation ol industry and commence, particularly frieght, caused by thc war. The Govern mont of which 1 was a member dealt in drastio fashion with the German .cancer which had eaten into our industrial Hf; in thc base metal industry, and in other directions. (Chacra) At my suggestion thc Government stepped in, and organised freight, and threw nil its weight behind the wheat pool scheme. After two years experience it may bc fairly said that th; action of the Government has been ol thc greatest possible benefit tu thj farmers. Never in the history of Aus trnlia have they received so ni noll fot their wheat as during this great war. Under the Wheat Board, the fumier ha« received all that his wheat produced, le*nciual expenses of handling. The middle man has been eliminated, handling chargeand commissions have been reduced to tin minimum.

Further under this scheme all farmer* great «nd small fare alike. For the tirai lime in his life thc poor struggling fnrnici has been able to get thc benefit of market prices, Milich he was formerly never iib!«

!-r

to do, since he was forced to sell to thl speculator, who gave a price much below Die market rate. The Wheat Board. bas now decided in favour of a farmer's re- . prcscntativc on the board. (Cheers.)

Since thc Wheat Pool came into exis-tence wc have sold G,100,000 tons, that ia, i 228,000.000 bushels of wheat at an average

price of 4s. Od. 1-3 f.o.b. Of this 2,014,000 tons have been actually sent oversea, and 3,185,000 tons sold hut not yet shipped. Tho farmer has received for wheat sold and actually delivered to the buyer over-sea and here £27,271,000, and for wheat sold hut not delivered he has received an additional £13,823,000. Thc British Gov-ernment, as is well known, has bought altogether 3,500,000 tons, that ie, 112,000,000 bushels, of 1915-16 and 1010-17 wheat for 4s. Od. a bushel f.o.b. This transaction is easily the biggest wheat deal in the world. Thc greater part of this wheat has not yet been shipped. For this wheat the farmer has already re-ceived £14,000,000, and the balance wit' bc paid as soon os the money is available from the British Government. Payment will nob depend upon the shipment of wheat from Australia. (Cheers.) This will mean great things not only to the man on the Jand, but to the people in the cities. . It is evident that without the organisation of thc Wheat Pool the farmers would have been in a very differ-ent position. It is not,too much to say, in fact, that without thc Wheat Pool, tho wheat-growing industry would have been almost ruined. But for the organisation ct freight which the Commonwealth con-trolled, tfie farmer would have received anything from ls. to 2s. less for all wheat sold cJX than he has cone. Entirely on-ing to Government action wheat freights from Australia were kept down from 60s. to 90s. a bon less than flights from places at a corresponding /istariec f;om Europe. Thc Government freight scheme, to thc success of which the Com-monwealth fleet of steamers contributed materially, enabled the Australian far-ber-12,000 miles distant from Britain -to get freight as cheaply as the agentine farmer, not one-half thc distance.

The Government Guarantee.

Thc general effect of the wheat pool and thc freight arrangement has been to greatly encourage wheat-growing. The gieat diflicul'v under which the producer in Australia has always laboured is to find an assured market at a remunerative price for his products. And this brings me to thc point I wish to make. An assured market for thc producer is abso-lutely essential if wc wish to develop this country. Great quantities of food products are now, and are going to bc for some time after the war, vital to the Empire. After tho war there arc going tu be groat opportunities for Australia to supply the world with her products, and thc Government has adopted a poliey which it believes will do a great deal to enable Australia to take advantage of those great opportunities. (Cheers.) Thc Commonwealth, which seeks above all thing» to help thc Empire, and at thc sume time develop Australia, has decided upon a policy which will encourage tho farmer to increase thc acreage under cultivation, and it will apply this policy to all forms of primary and secondary industries. Dealing wi til wheat, it lias, neting in conjunction with the wheatgrowing States, already guaranteed a minimum of 4s. a bushel f.o.b. for the next season's 11117-18 wheat crop. It now cxteml s that guarantee to the 1018-lt) crop. (Cheers.) Farmers, therefore, who have already received pay-ment for the lit!iî-Hî crop and portion oí the 101017. mid have the remainder guaranteed, can get to work straight away on new and old ground with thc positive assurance that, come peace or uar, slump in the market, scarcity ol freight, or «hat not. thev arc assured of at- least 4s. a bushel f.o.b. for their wheat crops for 1017-1S and ]f)18-in. Thia, I think, will put great heart into our farmers. They know that for every bushel they produce, no matter what the. world's markets are, ann never mind whether shins come to Australia, it is guing to bc a great thing for thc fanners. (Cheers.) Tl.cy will get their land under cultivation, anil many men, returned sol-diers and others, will be encouraged to go on thc hind now that they know a cer-tain and remunerative market is assured to them.

i Markets and Prices.

Time will not now permit mc to speak of what lins N'en done to tear out the can-ter of German trade in Australia, to oignnii-e and develop the great base metal industrv, or to go into thc applica-tion of thc Government poliey to ment1 and other products, and to industries generally. Hut 1 want to tell thc meat producers ol Australia that th« Govern-ment, recognisinir the vital importance of thc mut U-r both from the point of view of feeding thc Empire and develop-ing Australia, wili tuke MieS action as will ensure tluit thc channels and agencies through which Australian luent finds its way tn the marketa of the world, iiK-liuh'ng refrigerate! tonnage and sell-ing agencies, are controlled in their intcivits, so that they too will have an assured market as fur as huuian effort um guarantee it. (Cheers.) As you know, sir, scarcity of freights and the recently imposed prohibition of imports

info Britain 1ms seriously affected tho

producers of several of our primary pro- j duets. The oversea markets are* thus I wholly closed or eeriously effected, ami thc Government, in order to protect the producer from lo?s mid thc consumer from exploitation, lias adopted a policy of ' appointing boards to regulate, prices and

find markcis. This is being done with hides and leather, tallows, hops, apples, tincl dried fruits. On all these boards the producer will have direct rcprcseuta¡ tiou. The Government, will regulate

prices in any industry where nich action is necessary to protect tho producer from less and the consumer from exploitation.

Tools and Consumers.

One point of great Importance in this I connection may be emphasised betöre I

pass on to other natters. 1 mean the . cflcct of the policy ul encouraging thc I di ve) >pme:it of Anitra linn rcsmirces on

tile consumer. We lune fixed thc price of wheat sold fur local consumption nt -ls. '.ld. ii bushel. This menus a cheap loaf. Hy the policy of the Government ii; guaranteeing n minimum price for wheat that ehenp losf ii ensured for the next three yenrs. (Cheers.) This will surely bc' good news for the community os a whole. Wc have lixcd thc price of sugar at 3{d. per HJ., and at thc same time given thc producer much more than ! ever lie received before in his life.

I (Cheers.) Surely that is a sound mitionnl policy, which protects producer r.nd consumer alike, and nt ('ie same time develops the resources of AiustraHa und ensures tho food supply of Britain. (Cheers.) To show what this policy has dunc for Australia it is interesting tl contrast the price of staple commodities in Australia lo-dn.v wth tho-e in Britain and clrewhere. Tile prices of staple commoditics in Australia to-day offer a striking contrast to those obtaining in liritain and elsewhere. Bread here is (Hd. (o "cl. a 4 ld. loaf ; in Britain it is ls. Sugar here is 3id. per lb. ¡ in London tt

is 7d.

Industrial Organisation.

Let me turn for a moment to a matter

of thc utmost possible importance. I mean the Government policy towards

Australian industries in general. Tho ? secret of Germany's success in commerça and industry before the war, her tremen-dous strength during thc war, springs from organisation upon a national basis. And wc, boo, must organise, and adopt her system, not only to »in thc war, but to rctiin thc fruits of victory when won. To develop our great resources wc must organise, lt is to this work of organisa-tion and development of our national re-sources to win thc war, and to grapple with thc problems that peace will bring ia its train, that the Government's policy is directed. (Cheer*.)

Tariff and Industry.

Our attitude on thc tariff as a means of encouraging industry has been already stated by mc in a Ministerial statement recently made in the Parliament, lt is the intention of the Government to de-velop Australian production and indus-try and to proceed with such amend-ments of the present tariff as may bc necessary to attain tins end. White alteration of the present tariff cannot now be made, the Government Are pledged to deal with thc matter directly circumstances make it possible. (Cheers.) Thc Government will also puah on with the policy of the late Administration, and

Beek the kid of science for the develop-ment of industry. Time will not enable me to deal (his evening "with this mat-ter,, which is of vital importance ; but I do not hesitate to declare that only by enlisting the aid of science can we hope to develop the great resources af Australia, and enable it to hold ¡ta own in competition with thc world. I shall during the campaign take opportunity of dealing more in detail with thc policy of the Government ih regard to en-couragement of Australian industries, but I have thought it necessary to state it now itt general terms.

Repatriation Problem.

It has been said many times that thia war.ie not as other wars; and this is very true. It ÍB certainly not less true that, great as thc task is that the war imposes upon the community, the problems after thu war will be not less difficult. These affect thc national, Industrial, and pclibcnl spheres. They must he faced and solved in the right »pint Australia will find the aftermath of this war even more terrible thata war itself. Amongst these problems is thc repatriation of our soldiers. Wc owe to those who have bronc the brunt of battle more than the nation can ever adequately repay. (Cheers.) They who stepped forth volun-tarily in the hour of their country's need have carried themselves nobly, and ac-quitted themselves well. These men, who went out with Australia's honour in their keeping, have covered her name with glory. .They went forth willingly to do their duty to Australia ; Aus-tralia must be equally ready to do its duty to them. It is the intention of thc Government, HO far as is huinanlv pos-sible, to sec that the debt is paid in full. Complete preparation can never be made, for their sacrifices arc beyond price. But wc can at leant make certain that the maimed are not left to struggle on un-aided, nor the grieving widow tortured by thc cruel pinch of want. Whatever moy be just in the criticism of thc past, fi:crc must be no room for criticism in thc future. Wc owe it to ourselves as a nation that the accidents of war shall r.ot entirely rob our soldiers of their efficiency as citizens, nor add one title to their burdens as individuals. Thc Govern-ment intends to apply itself vigorously to the task which lies before it. The widows and dependants of those who have fallen will be provided for; thc un-employable will be generously pensioned, and thc maimed will be settled in occu-pations for which they are fitted. (Cheers.) Thc Commonwealth Govern-ment undertakes tho full responsibility for the wclfaro of thc returned soldiers, I und is now completing the machinery

i necessary to ensure it. lt has Rgrccd with thc states U|wn a scheme of land settlement, and is now dealing with the various other phases of repatriation of thc soldier. The Government scheine will

; provide for direct representation of tuc 1 soldiers themselves, eo that thc returned men \rill have a voice in thc working I of thc scheme, and thc Government the

I benefit of their advice and co-operation. | j The financial obligations of tile land

settlement and general rcpatriaton pro-

posals to which tiie Commonwealth is ] committed involve a considerable amount of money, which has been estimated at £32,000,000, of which £22,000,000 is re-quired for land settlement, and

£10/000,000 for other forms of repatria- ; tion. Thc Government proposes to raise the £22,000,000 hy loans, and thc remain-ing £10,000,000 by a tax upon incomes spread over a scries of years. It hopes to ensure that close and intimate interest . in the repatriation of thc soldier which

is essential to the success of the scheme hy also appealing for voluntar}' contribu-tions in money and kind.

Population and Defence.

A word here on immigration, a matter of vital interest to Australia. We have a continent in which I00/H»j000 of people cc.uld live in case. Wc have a population ot" bardy 5,000,000. If wc are to hold this great and rich country it ii abun-dantly clear that we must people it with tuen who are prepared to ß"ht for it. (Loud cheers.) The Government has al-ready agreed with the states that the same facilities offered to the returned Australian soldiers for land settlement shall be giveu to Britsh soldiers. The uien who arc fighting thc battles of the Empire are thc kind of men we want in Australia. The Government is anxious about this, for nothing is more certain that if- we are to hold this country wc must have a numerous population pre-pared to defend us. Wc are never going

I tc, hold this country with five million I of people, never. Wc must have the

numbers, and they must be strong and virile men. (Loud cheers.) The Govern1 ment is anxious to co-operate with the

j states in securing a steady stream of imI migrants after thc war in order that It

j limy ecttle a virile population upon thc

tanda of Australia. We do not want i them in the great eitlea. We want them

I on thc land. Wc must offer them facili! ties. We must encourage peoplo to j settle on the land and to work the land. ' For this reason we have guaranteed thc minimum price for wheat. For thin reason wc are arranging to spend £22,000,000 in settling soldiers on tho land. ,

Taxation.

This war, which has brought dreadful rein and disaster to' other lands, which has left poor Belgium a blackened and ruined waste, has passed us by . un-scathed. But although happily wo have escaped its awful horrors, yet thc war has imposed upon ns great burdens which daily grow heavier. Hie taxation which the people havo to pay has been considerably increased. Wc have already incurred debts for war purposes falling not far short of £130,000,000. To this, of course, must be added other obliga-tions, as, for example, those arising out of the repatriation of our soldiers. Wc ure defraying a considerable portion of the extraordinary expenditure arising out of the war from revenue, and as you know have, lately increased thc rate of income tax by twenty-five per cent. Wealth has its duties and its responsibilities in this great straggle as well aa man-hood, and 1 feel sure that no loyal Aus-tralian will complain 'because he is called upon to contribute his fair share of Health towards helping the Common-wealth and the Empire to achieve decisive victory. Thc wealthy classes of Britain have set a slendid example to thc world, and are cheerfully pouring out, not only their money, bm their blood for their country. And in this, as in other tilings. Australia «iii not lng behind, lt is only right that we should do our duty hy those who have done their duty so heroically bv us: that evcrv man should contribute his fair sluirc tiwords this war: and that no mau should ninke a profit nt his country's expense. Tho Government intends to proceed with thc War Time Profita Bill. Every considera-tion will bc given to new businesses, to exceptional industries, and to individual

cases where hardship would arise, but tho ' principle that no man is entitled to inako undue piolita in war time is sound, equit-able, mid will bc applied. (Cheers.) Our circumstances compel a wise and pru-dent economy in expenditure, and thc Government will exercise thc utmost caro in this direction. As I have already said,

it will not seek to create unemployment far thc purpose of economic conscripton,

Seeking rather to rely upon the patriotic^ spirit of tho people than their neossslv rica. I think it necessary to make that statement in view of thc first signs of this dense miasma of lies which is rising again in this campaign as it was raised it: the referendum campaign. .%,«»

Begulation of Imports, "**<"*

Thc Government intends to follow til's example of Great Britain in regard t* flic regulation of the importation of luxuries during -war time. Such « policy' seems to be dictated both hy common piudence and thc circumstances in which!

we now find ourselves. It is obvious on thc face of it that to send money ont ot this country and out of the Empire at */ time when every atom of wealth is essen-; tia! to a suicidal policy. While recognisii.g how intricate the ramifications of tbs": proposal arc, and how carefully and closely each . particular item toast bo dealt with, the Government intends to j Igive effect to that policy, so that we

taay keep the wcaith of tic country within the country and the Empire, make . available for loan and other pnrf ! posies money which otherwise would ba

j dissipated in unnecessary expenditure, [end, at the same time, encourage,las far

AB humanly possible, the industries of I Australia, and increase the opportunités' lot employment for our own citizens. It

i i obvious that in so complex «matter wu must proceed with great care. To prohibit the importation of luxuries, and so give employment to ten people, and, at the same time, throw 250 out of work* would be folly. The : question is most difficult, but. having due regard to all itr difficulties and complexées, tb* Government will endeavour to achtern the end I have mentioned. (Cheers.)

- Mr. Hughes and Bendigo., .» And now a brief word on myself ss li candidate for the suffrages of the alec» tors of Bendigo. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) I have come here to contest tb^s election as the result of a general and widespread desire of electors of boto! political parties that I should do so. (Loud cheers.) Several electorates' of the Commonwealth had done me the great; honour of inviting me to stand as a candidate. 1 have come to the people of Bendigo, and now seek their suffrages. There is perhaps something not unfitting in (tlie fact that I, who belorife to one branch of the great Celtic family, the Welsh, should come to this place where! so many of the people belong to another i branch of tho Celtic family, the Cor! r.ish, and where thc Cornish people hovo j left so many marks of their energy, and;

.of that spirit which has made the Cor¡nish people so prominent in many way» throughout the world. Wc arc bound together, not only by thc bonds of racial kinship, but by the bonds of loyalty to thc Empire. (Loud cheers.) I am glad that in this great war, which means Mfa and death to us, the men of the Celtic strain, Cornish and Welsh, are doing tl-cir share. As what I am and what, I stand for are both well enough known, I need say nothing more now than thisIf thc electors of Bendigo do me tho honour of electing mc I will do my very utmost to serve them and mv country faithfully and well. (Loud cheers.) _ ,