CONSCRIPTING YOUTHS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 208, 31 August 1917, Page 4

CONSCRIPTING YOUTHS.

MB McCOMBS QUOTES Gt-AUSE. " WHERE DID YOU GET THAT BILL?" (By Telegrapb.—rarliameatary Eepolter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Great interest was aroused in the House to-day when Mr. McCombs quoted what he alleged was a clause in the Government Bill which had got into print, proposing to conscript youths of ID. He wished to know if the bill was I authorised by the Premier, otherwise how could it have got into print. Mr. Maesey explained that the procedure was for the Minister in charge of the bill to get it printed for the information of Cabinet. "I would like to know where the hon. gentleman got that ■bill," declared Mr. Massey, amid laughter. "There's only one way of getting it, and it's a very dishonourable method.'' i Mr. McCombs: Quite honourable so ■ far as I am concerned. : Mr. Massey: Well, that's the straight

iip. The Premier added that the Cabinet system was for the Minister to get the jill printed before introduction to Cabinet. There it might be lulled about, just as bills -were in the House. Consideration of )iie Racing- Bill lasted three days. When the question was sprung ipon him in the House, he was not quite •lear what had happened, as be handled at least a thousand documents daily, md failed 10 recollect all of the details; but when lie said the bill had not been Mosidered by Cabinet he was quite accurate; in fact. Cabinet had not yet considered the bill, and could not until it dealt with the measure for shortening hotel hours. '"I challenge the member, , ' rontinued Mr. Massey. to tell the House where he got that bill." Mr. McCombs: I'll tell to-morrow. Mr. Massey. The bill is not mine. ] have nothing to do with it. THE ALLEGED CLAUSE. A quotation, said to be from the Military Service Amendment Bill, read b\ Mr." McCombs, was as follows: —"Section 4. Mnrjjinal note: lien on attaining the ajre of 19 years to be liable for service with Expeditionary Force. Clause 1 Section 2, of the Military Service Act 1016, is hereby amended by omitting de tinition of term "Military age,' and substi tuting the following definition age means any age not less than 10 year: and less than 46 years; (2) Section 3{ of the last-mentioned Act is hereby amended by omitting from sub-section : the words 'twenty years,' substituting words 'nineteen years'; (3) every xnai who, on the passing of tfy Act has attained the age o nineteen years, but has not attaine< the age of twenty years, and who by virtue of the section, has become < member of the Expeditionary Force Be serve, shall within 14 days after th< passing of this Act make application t< the Government Statistician to be en rolled in the reserve, unless lie has befor tho passing of this Act furnished th> Government Statistician vriih a tru statement setting forth the particular required by any proclamation directinj the enrolment of any division or ejass o the reserve."