Who supported the conscription?

Who supported the conscription?

It was also supported by most of the Commonwealth Liberal Party including the Liberal state premiers, by the major Protestant churches and the Universal Service League, which had many prominent Australians as members. The result was that there were 1,087,557 votes in favour and 1,160,033 in opposition.

Who started conscription in Australia?

Alfred Deakin
In 1909, the federal government of prime minister, Alfred Deakin, introduced legislation for a form of conscription for boys from 12 to 14 years of age and for youths from 18 to 20 years of age for the purposes of home defence.

Who was for conscription and who was against it?

It made all male citizens between the ages of 20 and 45 subject to military service, if called, for the duration of the war. Conscription was the main issue in the federal election that followed in December, a bitter contest between Conservative / Unionist Sir Robert Borden and Liberal Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

Who introduced conscription in Australia ww2?

Menzies
On 20 October 1939 Menzies announced the reintroduction of compulsory military training, known as the Universal Service Scheme, with effect from 1 January 1940. The arrangements required unmarried men turning 21 to undertake three months’ training with the CMF.

Who opposed conscription in Australia?

First referendum defeated Labor Prime Minister Billy Hughes reached the conclusion that conscription would be necessary to raise the required number of reinforcements. However, conscription was strongly opposed by his own party in the senate. Hughes decided to take the issue directly to the people.

Why did the government introduce conscription?

The government saw no alternative but to increase numbers by conscription – compulsory active service. Parliament was deeply divided but recognised that because of the imminent collapse of the morale of the French army, immediate action was essential. In January 1916 the Military Service Act was passed.

What were the reasons for conscription?

Conscription merely serves to have convenient cannon fodder for imminent war. Governments should instead work on cutting military spending and provide their citizens with basic necessities such as healthcare, housing and food. Such is the benefit of the so-called ‘peace dividend.

Who was against conscription in Australia?

The referendum was narrowly defeated, with 1,160,033 votes against and 1,877,557 votes in favour. On a state basis, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia voted a majority against conscription, while Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Federal Territories voted in favour of conscription.

Why did farmers oppose conscription?

To justify their opposition to conscription, the farmers maintained that it was not only in their own interest, but also consistent with the national and supranational interest, for them to stay home and feed the troops of Great Britain and its allies.

Who was against conscription in ww2?

With the entry of Japan into the war in December 1941 came further demands for overseas conscription. In a plebiscite of April 1942, King asked Canadians to release him from his 1939 promise. Overall, the “Yes” side won, with 64%, but Quebeckers voted 73% against and many other non-English-Canadians were also opposed.

When was the conscription introduced?

Conscription introduced In January 1916 the Military Service Act was passed. This imposed conscription on all single men aged between 18 and 41, but exempted the medically unfit, clergymen, teachers and certain classes of industrial worker.

Who introduced conscription in ww1?

Prime Minister Borden
On May 18, 1917, Prime Minister Borden retreated from his earlier promise and introduced a conscription bill, the Military Services Act. While some English Canadians opposed conscription, nowhere was the outcry greater than in French Canada.

Why was conscription introduced in Canada in 1917?

Conscription, 1917. The federal government decided in 1917 to conscript young men for overseas military service. Voluntary recruitment was failing to maintain troop numbers, and Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden believed in the military value, and potential post-war influence, of a strong Canadian contribution to the war.

Who had the power to introduce conscription?

The Federal Parliament has the power to introduce conscription with a majority vote in the House of Representatives and the Senate. However the Labor Party, led by Billy Hughes, had a policy against conscription and a majority of Senators were also against the introduction of conscription.

When was the first conscription bill introduced in Britain?

He introduces the first conscription bill in his country history on this date in 1916. The bill was presented to the House of Commons on this day. The British high command had urged the government to introduce conscription in order to help the war effort. They believed that they would only be victorious if Britain fought a total war.

Why did Borden support conscription in 1917?

Voluntary recruitment was failing to maintain troop numbers, and Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden believed in the military value, and potential post-war influence, of a strong Canadian contribution to the war. The 1917 conscription debate was one of the fiercest and most divisive in Canadian political history.