Proclamation reinforcement referendum

Place Oceania: Australia
Accession Number ARTV06317
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 100 x 70 cm; sheet: 102 x 63.4 cm
Object type Poster
Physical description offset lithograph on paper
Maker Unknown
Commonwealth Government of Australia
Wightman & Co., Ltd.
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made 16th November 1917
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Proclamation for the second and final Australian conscription referendum. This proclamation was issued by Prime Minister W.M. Hugues. It is text only, and printed in blue ink on white paper. This poster was printed in London, and was presumably created for Australian servicemen and other Australian citizens living in the U.K. during this period. The text reads: 'Until America has marshalled her great resources the chief burden of the War must rest upon the British Empire. Every part must do its share. Australia must maintain her five Divisions in Europe and her forces in Palestine and elsewhere at their full strength. To do this 7,000 men per month are necessary. Voluntary recruiting, though givern every opportunity, has proved herself quite inadequate to raise this number. National safety imperatively demands that Australia should do her duty. / the Government therefore asks the Electors to give it power to raise 7,000 men per month in the terms of the following proposal: - [12 propositions are then outlined including a detailed list of exemptions and the legislative and legal frameworks for establishing exemptions via Supreme Court judges] This is the proposal of the Government upon which the Electors are asked to vote. The power asked for is definite and limited. It applies to single men only, and widowers and divorcés without dependents between 20 and 44 years of age. The GOVERNMENT GIVES the ELECTORS A DEFINITE PLEDGE: 1. The power here asked for will be limited to the period of the War. 2. That the limits of the power will not be exceeded. 3. That the total reinforcements, including Volunteers, will not exceed 7,000 per month. 4. That the number of Divisions will not be increased. 5. That if through any cause fewer men than 7,000 are needed for reinforcements in any month only the number actually required will be / called up or enlisted. 6. That married men will be exempt. That other classes or persons exempted under the proposal will not be called up. 8. That sufficient labour to carry on the necessary industries of the country, including rural industries, will be exempted.'

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