Flier, Conscientious objector mass meeting 1916

Registration number

1722817

Printer

Anderson; 47 Victoria St. Melb

Title

Flier, Conscientious objector mass meeting

Production date

1916

Medium

ink, paper

Dimensions (H x W x D)

19 x 12.3 cm

Inscriptions

To Conscientious Objectors who will / Resist Compulsory Military Service. The No-Conscription Fellowship / will hold a / MASS MEETING / IN THE / GUILD HALL, Swanston Street / ON / Thursday Next, Aug. 31 / at 8 p.m. / The Labour Party would never agree to Conscription / unless it was first made an election issue -----Ex- / Prime Minister Fisher. / THE FIGHT IS JUST COMMENCING.

Credit line

City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection

Keywords

Anti-conscription, WWI, World War One, 1916, protest, rally, No-Conscription Fellowship, Guild Hall, Swanston Street, Military service

Summary

As World War I dragged on into its third and fourth years, the issue of military conscription for overseas service became the subject of fierce and divisive debate. The Australian government, led by Prime Minster Billy Hughes, made two attempts at winning a mandate for the introduction of conscription in two plebiscites, conducted in 1916 and 17. Both of these resulted in a majority ‘no’ vote, although each by only a relatively small margin. In Melbourne, strident campaigns against conscription were conducted by labour organisations, certain churches and a range of pacifist groups. An equally impassioned pro-conscription campaign was supported by the Australian and British governments and much of the mainstream press. Large public rallies and town hall meetings were a critical aspect of the campaigns, always attracting large crowds.