The prime minister The Right Honourable W M Hughes, speaking in Martin Place, Sydney. In 1916 and ...

Place Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney
Accession Number A03376
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Glass original half plate negative
Maker Sydney Mail
Place made Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Date made c 1916
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

The prime minister The Right Honourable W M Hughes, speaking in Martin Place, Sydney. In 1916 and again in 1917, in consequence of the falling off in recruiting, Mr Hughes laid a proposal for conscription before the people by means of a referendum. Popular opinion was sharply divided, there being honest convictions on each side. After the bitterest campaigns within memory the proposal was twice defeated, on each occasion by a comparatively narrow majority of the men and women voters of Australia.