LA TROBE University Bendigo is holding a debate between Ian Tulloch and Chris Earl on the role of William Morris ‘Billy’ Hughes as Prime Minister on October 30. He was also a Federal Member for Bendigo during that time.
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Hughes has aroused strong passions both for and against during his time as Prime Minister. It is not often that the Australian people are asked to cast their vote in a referendum on the question of war, but in the case of conscription to fight in such a war, this indeed was the case.
The huge loss of life during the Gallipoli campaign and later on the Somme in France convinced Hughes that a different effort needed to be made to reinforce the Australian Imperial Force at the Western Front.
In 1916, the Australian government published a notice calling on all males between the ages of 21 and 35 to report to drill halls. According to reports in the Bendigo Advertiser, the first conscription campaign was opened in Bendigo on October 2 and on October 4. The first list of these men amounted to 556 who were passed fit for service, with 407 applying for exemption. On October 17, the Prime Minister addressed a crowd at the Lyric Theatre, Bendigo, in favour of the conscription proposals.
The referendum was taken on October 28, with majorities in favour of conscription in three states, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania. The large “No” vote in New South Wales meant the proposal was lost by over 64,000 votes. In Bendigo the “No” vote exceeded the “Yes” vote.
As a result, the 700 trainees in Bendigo were released from camp which was closed and Billy Hughes left the Labor Party.
In 1917, the Prime Minister decided to contest the seat of Bendigo and on May 5 was returned with a majority of over 4,000 votes. The question put to voters was: ‘Are you in favour of the proposal of the Commonwealth Government for reinforcing the Commonwealth forces overseas’.
This second referendum resulted in a bigger majority against the government’s question, with Victoria now voting against compulsory military service. Bendigo again voted “No”.
Bendigo Historical Society October meeting is October 3 in the Bendigo TAFE Theatre at 2 pm. Elaine Doling from the National Trust Bendigo will speak on the famous Bendigo architect William Charles Vahland. All welcome gold coin donation.
