IN EVENT OF WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 128, 2 June 1938, Page 7

IN EVENT OF WAR.

SERVICES IN BRITAIN.

Conscription Would be Matter

For Parliament.

PLANS IN PREPARATION.

British Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 1. A statement by Mr. Chamberlain in the House of Commons at question time in reply to questions prompted by Sir Thomas Inskip's allusions in Monday's debate to plans for the allocation of individuaT" services in war time, which was interpreted as implying conscription in the widest sense, was followed by a large number of supplementary questions.

The essence of the matter was contained in Mr. Chamberlain's opening sentence: "It is not correct that any plans prepared by the Government include conscription of manpower in war, but plans are in existence for compulsory military service in that event.

"I may say this is no new departure," Mr. Chamberlain continued. "Outlines of a scheme in the form of a draft bill providing for compulsory service on the outbreak of war have been in an advanced state of preparation since 1922 and have been the subject of consideration by successive Governments since that date.

"Xo such scheme has been worked out for the application of compulsion to industrial or other non-military service although, from time to time, consideration has been given to the question of how to make the most efficient use of the nation's manpower in war tinfe.

"While it is not possible to foretell the full extent of the demand that may have to be made upon personal services and material resources of individual members of il\e public in a major war, it is certain that any proposals of that kind would have to receive the assent of Parliament and be based on the recommendation of the Government of the day."

Wealth Conscription Talk. In the course of supplementary questions attention was turned to possible interpretations of Sir Thomas Inskip's words, and Mr. Chamberlain conceded that if Sir Thomas had had longer to prepare his remarks he might have expressed himself differently. He emphasised that all the sentences cited by the Opposition were intended to convey was that enlistment during peace time in various special Services, such as auxiliary fire brigades, air wardens, etc., could not be taken as giving permanent exemption from military service.

As the interchange of questions and answers proceeded, interest shifted to the character of the plans in existence and the implication they carried of the Government's intentions.

Interrogated on the latter part of his above statement, Mr. Chamberlain recalled that lie had not said a bill, but an outline in the form of a draft bill, had been in existence since 1922.

"I said it had been under consideration by successive Governments. I did not say what view the successive Governments had taken. I am not entitled to say that, but I do say again that it has been changed by successive Governments from time to time."

To a later question suggesting that the Government was committed to compulsory service in war, and asking about conscription of wealth, Mr. Chamberlain replied emphatically: "It is not the case that the Government is committed to anything in the nature of compulsory service. It would be a question for the Government of the day in the event of war to decide whether it was its duty to put before Parliament proposals for compulsory service.

"That is only in the event of war breaking out," Mr. Chamberlain concluded. "At present neither this House nor the Government is committed to compulsory military service. I cannot possibly say what action would be taken by any Government that was in office at the time if a war did break out."

RAID PRECAUTIONS.

Protection for Members of

Parliament.

SAND-BAGGED COMMONS

British Official Wireless. 2 p.m.) RUGBY, June 1. Speaking in the House of Commons on the subject of air raid precautions, the Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, after making reference to the 1,f>00,000 persons outside the London County Council area, said there were 58,000 acres of open spaces that could be used in an emergency. The Government had already accumulated 32,000,000 sandbags.

Referring to the Houses of Parliament, he said that the rooms and corridors on the ground floor facing the terrace were considered the safest. Sand-bags would be used where necessary, and rescue, clearance and decontamination parties would be raised from the Parliamentary staff.

The Home Secretary reported on the progress of preparations. He discussed precautions against high explosive and incendiary bombs and gas, and emphasised that the Government was not, by any means, neglecting the first of these.

Surveys of basement accommodation in several London boroughs, and open spaces available for trenches and dugouts yielded surprisingly encouraging results.

Points mentioned were that open spaces in London would provide trench dug-out accommodation for about 1,500,000 persons; that an order for 275,000,000 sand-bags had been given; that they had already 100 emergency fire brigade schemes; that material for emergency fire brigade work would be completed by the end of the year; that apart from 300,000 gas masks issued for training,- 100 local authorities had already ieceived for storage sufficient masks for civil populations in their areas; that new Government buildings would in future be provided with additional protection against air attack; and that plans for safety of memb'ers of the Houses of Parliameut was well advanced.