PDF (Whole Thesis) - USQ ePrints - University of Southern ...

through paraphrased statements made by the three war-time Prime Ministers: Joseph Cook,
Andrew Fisher, and William Morris Hughes. Despite Hughes being a very controversial
politician, particularly regarding first his switching to and from political parties and second,
his support for the failed conscription referenda, multiple perspectives are not included in the
textbook content. By the textbook reading: “...William Morris Hughes, who, as Prime
Minister of four Governments between 1915 and 1923, represented Australia’s interest in a
most capable manner when he visited England.” (Cramp, 1927, p. 215, emphasis added), the
textbook presents the suggestion of a compliance with Great Britain, failing to mention that
Hughes was criticised consistently in Australia for being overly-British, a point reaching a
pinnacle due to the defeat of two referenda he instigated (reacting to demands from Great
Britain for increased troops) to enact compulsory conscription for military-age males.
The conscription debates, a very complex issue in post-Federation Australian history, are not
mentioned in A story of the Australian people (Cramp,1927) and are described only very
briefly in New syllabus history for seventh grade, with the description: “No man was
compelled to join the army. In 1916, and again in 1917, the people of Australia were asked to
vote whether there should be conscription—that is, whether men should be forced to become
soldiers and serve outside the Commonwealth. The majority of electors voted against
conscription” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 106). Here, the rejection of conscription is not
contextualised to any broader socio-political activities or people of the time; instead it is put
forth in a very matter-of-fact way. It is difficult to gauge the view of the curriculum on this
topic as it is so devoid of detail. It is curious why more attention was not paid to the debates
and referenda over conscription, given that the referenda for Federation is explained in
significant detail, with opposing views presented, and results detailed (see, in particular,
Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, pp. 52-54). The conscription debates were in fact passionate and
fierce, but reading textbooks of the era, intended for upper primary/lower secondary, students
would learn little information about this aspect of Australia’s very recent past.
5.8.2 Discourses of military allegiance to a superior Great Britain.
The discourse of military allegiance prior to WWI can be seen as an abstract allegiance, with
statements of potential future action such as “if need be, to aid in defending the honour…of
that Old Land” (Department of Public Instruction, 1913b, p. 44). Curriculum content from
WWI onwards provided an opportunity for this military allegiance to be grounded in a
169