Summary

Front page from The Herald, 'Special Referendum Edition', 10.15 pm, 20 December 1917. The edition announces returns for the World War I conscription referendum at Yes 95,118; No 111,858, excluding 'Anzacs' and absent voters. The issuing of this edition late in the evening, followed even later by an 11.10 pm edition, highlights the drama and excitement of the referendum result, notably at a time when more instant forms of media were unavailable.

The provenance of this particular cutting is unknown.

When war was announced in 1914, support was high; vast numbers of men enlisted to serve in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF). However stories of lost campaigns and war horrors, coupled with increasing casualty rates saw recruitment levels decline. By 1916 there was a shortage of men to fight overseas; Billy Hughes' Labor government proposed conscription as the solution to declining numbers of men. In a referendum held on 28 October 1916, Australians were asked: 'Are you in favour of the Government having, in this grave emergency, the same compulsory powers over citizens in regard to requiring their military service, for the term of this War, outside the Commonwealth, as it now has in regard to military service within the Commonwealth?' By a very narrow margin (51% against, 49 % for), the people of Australia rejected the referendum. After this failure, Hughes was expelled from the Labor Party. He promptly crossed the floor, along with about half of the parliamentary party, and became prime minister of a conservative Nationalist government. The problem of declining numbers of men wishing to enlist did not go away. Consequently a second referendum was called. On 20 December 1917 the Australian public were asked: 'Are you in favour of the proposal of the Commonwealth Government for reinforcing the Commonwealth Forces overseas?' The answer was a resounding no. Australia was the only country (except South Africa) not to adopt conscription during World War I.

Physical Description

Single page of printed newspaper, mounted on card.

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