MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15612, 9 June 1916, Page 9

MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

PASSED through COMMITTEE. A FAVOURABLE PASSAGE. piXAL STAGES TO-DAY. (srrci.vi. to "the tress.") WELLINGTON, Juno 7. Utter tho Telegraph Office closed at t*o o'clock this morning, the Committee continued consideration of the \;;litarv Service Bill. ' jj r 'Poole alleged that they wore spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar. Jlr Anderson said that conscripts would have to ho put right at tho expense or tho State, and why should volunteers not rcceivo the same treatment? On clause 4, Mr Masscv said he intended to reach clause 6, when ho irouid report progress. This was speedily done, and tho Committee rose at* 2:25 a.m.

The Labour blockade ended by exhaustion. Its solo effect had been to iraste five or 6ix hours of Parliamentary time in useless verbiage and to forcc important clauses through in the early hours of tho morning without that measure of debate that might jnstly bo theirs. To-day, fortunately, the idiocy of tho courso seems to havo dawned upon tho L-ibour quartet, and. good progress was made. dividing the reserve. A proviso that the children of a previous marriage must bo dependent upon a man who had married fnibsequent to May, 1915, before ho could bo exempted from division 1, was inserted, on the motion of Mr "Witty, on tho distinct understanding given by tho Minister that it would bo -withdrawn if his expert advisers considered it -unworkable.

Messrs Veitcli and Wilkinson urged

that special provision should be mads for families who have already sent several members to tho front. Mr Allen said he thought it inadvisable to place anything in t'lo Bill regarding the matter. Clause 4 as amended was adopted. ' PROHIBITING MARRIED MEN. Mr Craigio moved a new sub-clauso providing that after the enrolment of the first division has been directed, the Governor shall by proclamation prohibit the voluntary enlistment of married men of the second division who hare two or more children dependent upon them. Mr Sykes suggested the .addition, of the Rords "and whose means aro not sufficient to make adequate provision for the maintenance jof their dependents in tho event of their .death or disablement." •■ Mr Craigie accepted this, but Mr JlcCombs protested against "this per'hietdos amendment," and Mr Allen (aid-lie could not see his way to accept! it.

The proposed sub-clanse was rejected on tho voices. ■' Clauses o and 6. with immaterial amendments, were adopted, progress iras reported at 2.25 a.m., and tho Houso rose. • At 3.15 p.m. the House resumed in Committee on tho Bill. Clauso 7. providing for the issue of a warrant for calling up reservists, was agreed to without discussion. Clause 8, establishing the principlo of tbc selection of reservists by lot, was also adopted. j. On clause 9, dealing witli the calling 'ip. of. reservists by publication of a wwee in tho new isub- , dauscs were adopted providing that in to the "Gazette" notice, the Minister shall, as far as practicable, WW,, to crcry man- called up * notice by registered letter to nisf:. last known place of abode. .Failure to do this, however, shall lot; affect tho validity of the , tilling ud of any man. Further, a ; tho "Gazette" notice shall be i Posted in somo conspicuous placo at i. post offices in New Zealand. jMr Witty said that these proposal >. tiet'liig wishes on those points, aqji . the clause as amended was adopted. Mr Allen explained that clause 10. ; Woviding that on tho day following ' f "is calling up, a man shall bo deemed to be transferred from the reserve to wie' Expeditionary Force, was in the .'•.nature of an automatic swearing-in. 'It did not mean that only one day's notice would be given. \ was no .'eed for such hurry as that, but it . Rinply meant that the man would bo i ttane liable to Army control. . Tho clause was adopted. Clauses 11 and 12, establishing tho Wnlity _of reservists on being called ®P to military command, and the need ™f reservists, to report at a set rendezvous, were adopted.

medically unfit. Some discussion occurred on clause reservists held to be niedica.ly unfit: may bo discharged rom the force and the reserve, or be from.foreign service. _ jir \\ Jlkinson suggested that as there would be a. number of recruits to be examined, a maximum should bo eet to J?a'd_,P any one medical man. V ♦' ? e M » nL^ r , replied that he hoped jo have Medical Boards in most of the towns. , In regard to tho maximum payment, new regulations had won drafted and wore ready for preto tho Houso. ' \t kinson: maximum? ■rf Allen: According to the number 0} examinations. ; ; Ti~ r .,^ r 'gbt enquired what could bo enlarge tho chest measurement 5 tttoHit ° ' vcre deficient, and so make 1 e . nt * tbinb the men ought to I '>«■ themselves. tk: l: a ij n u he thought tho least -Cifc?*" 00 . *° a raan who was offerserv\c? ""-"as to offer him facilircacbmg the standard of chest should they not f®*-' Pounds to make each a also 860 that the teeth of , were attended to and mado fit. t iKw?*L 80 stressed tho point V jT** ta ® Minister had now to deal with ; who did not wish to go to the ! ' : terni' i j D the chest measurew'sh to increase thoir v.-'to iJl 11 ™; be advised the Minister «'•*' Wf e 6^ be very elastic. a mai ? , who otherwise all :i , - jJf™ *as an inch or so short, he should tW» ii a J? cam P and let the work > him out. " cW?, Pa;^, e: H ornibrook, of Christ- ' put m rigllt in tbreo hrit r - Ell that the country • SLiv 1 s ° P° or tha t it could not do , belp a man by means of Cl *ltureif he were keen to go . 5"- 0 hoped this wretched economy • iW'-Sr- I^ rfc the Department would abandoned. If the rumours that

readied him were true, there was extravagance somewhere, and if that wen; cheeked a few pounds could be spared for such eommonsense assistance for recruits as this wae. He asked for an assurance from the Minister that all expenses associated with tho rcmo%*al of physical defects discovered on examination should be borne by the State. Mr Dickie agreed that the Stato should pay for the removal and remedying of uhysical defects, and specially instanced several dental cases. Messrs Poole andj Craigie joined in tho demand for froo treatment of physical dcfects. PHYSICAL CULTURE SCHOOLS. Mr Allen said the Government was trying to make tho local examinations as perfect as they could, and where they could establish boards they would nso them more than in the past. As for the small-cbcsted men, he could not give any undertaking to establish a school cf physical culturo a.s well as a school of military training. Ho would suggest that a man with an inch or an inch and a liaif short should set- to work himself and remedy matters. Ho could not see how ho (the Minister) could do it; he had quite enough to do. Dr. Newman: Can't you take him into camp and let tho work fix it?

Mr Allen: "That is entirely for the medical officer to say. In some instances he does this if he realises that the man will fill out.'" In regard to teeth an arrangement was entered into with the New Zealand Dental Association whereby the teeth of recruits should b 0 treated, and if the man was not able to pay. then the Government would pay. Owing to the Government insisting "on thoso paying who could pay, tho Government had been able to secure a much more satisfactory arrangement for the treatment of the poorer men. Tho Dental Association were making practically nothing out of the arrangement. They gave tho Department a very reasonable price. "If."said Mr Allen, "T wero to allow all minor defects to be put right at the cosfc of the country, it would involve an expense of hundreds of thousands of pounds, and the conviction is being forced upon mo more and more every day that it is our duty to consider every penny, we do not know how long this war will continue." In nearly every case, he added, the Hospital Boards wero doing tho minor operations freo of charge, and lie considered this a very proper action on their part. A PERTINENT QUESTION. Mr Anderson: In tho case of conscripts, are you going to make a man's teeth right or him down for being dentallv inefficient? Mr Allen: That has not been thought out yet. It will be a question whether his teeth can be done sufficiently cheaply or whether it will be better to leave him here in tho country. It will be a question of where we are to draw the toe. Jlr. Young said the discussion would convince tho Government that the opinion of tho House was itat tho Government should remedy minor physical defects. He referred to the work undertaken _ by . the Dental Association under its scheme with tho Government, and now every recruit was given an opportunity of making himself dentally efficient. A Dental Corps had been established in the two camps where much, work was done, but in addition tho dentists throughput the country were doing a great deal of work at theso reduced fees, which barely paid them for their material, etc., and for this the country owed them a great debt of gratitude. _ Mr McCombs contended that this Compulsion Bill would not havo been necessary had it not been for tho parsimony of the Government upon this ciuestion of making temporarilv unfit men fit. He cited figures from Christchurcli which showed that • 520 men wero lost in three months because of tho necessity for minor operations. It had been suggested to him that where a man went to a dentist the latter enquired if he was to pay for it or the Government, and if it, was the Governm.Qnt then he <*ot inferior work. Mr Allen repudiated the suggestion that inferior work was being done for the Government. Good work was done, but certainly a man might get moro treatment if he paid for it himself. Clause 13 was passed at 5.30 p.m. TO LIMIT DESERTION. The next clause (14), which declared that a soldier remaining in New Zealand after the unit to which ho was attached had left - should he deemed guilty of desertion unless thero were extrcmo circumstances, was declared by several members to bo too drastic. The Minister / said that the clause wag most important. Even under the voluntary system cases were not unknown of men who deserted. He insisted that there wero ample safciruards. -\

Members wero not at once satisfied with this declaration, and continued to press for less severity. Mr Statham moved to excuse men if they are delayed through circumstances over which thev have no control. Mr Allen accepted tho amendment on the understanding that if the experts declared against it he would resubmit it to tho House. Tho clause as amended was agreed to. . Clause 16, fixing tho punishment for desertion at imprisoment for any term not exceeding ten years also provoked some comment. Mr Jennings moved to reduce tho maximum punishment from ten to fivo years, which tho Minister accepted. Messrs Payne, McCombs, Webb, and Hindraarsh urged that tbp maximum penalty of five years was still tooTiijih, nnd pressed for a further reduction. They called for a division on Mr Jennings's amendment, but tho amendment was agreed to by -50 votes to 6. Clause 16 as amended was adopted. THE EXEMPTION QUESTION.

On clause 17. dealing with appeals by reservists, j Mr Payne moved, to strike out tho sub-clausc giving tho following reason for exemption: —"That by reason of his occupation, his calling up for military service is contrary to the public interest." He declared that if Parliament would bo honest, it should see that, conscription was applied to all aliko. ..Tt was becauso of the existence in the Bill of this clause that farmers' conferences throughout the country passed resolutions in favour of tho Bill. They ; know they would not be called upon to serve. He objocted to tho Government giving exemptions to the very class who were making all tho war profits. Mr "Wilkinson repelled tho attack made on farmers by the member for Grey Lynn. He did not sec that farmers would bo exomoted under tho clauso as it stood, tfio would like to see some measure of exemption given to railway servants. Mr Poolo said that this clauso was tho storm centre of the Bill. Many people supporting tho principlo of tho Bill .were suspicions lest there. should be improper discrimination in _ tho granting of"exemptions. He especially, feared that those people who were well-to-do might be able with success to bring undue influence on tho Board. Ho fully realised that in a country liko ours special consideration _ ought, to bo given to the agricultural industries. Mr Hind marsh said that- he did. not object to exemptions, but he put it to the Houso that there was no equality of sacrifice when ono man wa3 icpt here at his work while another was sent to endure the rigours ot war in the trenches. Primary industries ought to be considered, but some men—thp worst shirkers in . the country who were engaged in primary industries certainly ought not to be exempted. Mr Noswortby supported the clause as it stood in the Bill. He urged that men ought to be left to do their. work on tho farms, because it was obviously in the interests of th© country that farm work to produce the 'food of the nation should be carried on. It would not bo possible to replace farm porkers by women, but it would bo.possible to replace many town workers suchas shop assistants by. women. He objected to tho suggestion that men.on the land were shirking and trying to dodge

their duty. In the provinces of Canterbury and Otago there was abvadya ' serious state of things, and already j very much diminished production was ] threatened because of the scarcity of i labour.

3lr Lvitt said that ho hoped the House would not waste time by discussing a clause which everyone knew must go through. It was futile to talk or equality of sacrifice because that ideal was impossible of attainment in war. The objection to the clause was being raised by those who objected to the hardships ot conscription. Would they make it impossible to reduce the hardships ? He appealed to the Government to sec that the men appointed to the Boards were of the sort that could be depended upon to resist unduo influence.

Mr toidey enquired if ministers of religion, professors, magistrates, and public school teachers were to be disposed of entirely at the discretion of the Aupcal Boards.

.Mr Allen remarked that the regulations had not yet boon considered. Ho did not propose to exempt any class of men whatever. The men would bo called uj by bailor, and those selected would have an opportunity of appealing and their employers would have the tame right. The Board would have specific instruction? under the Act to consider whether the calling up for military sen-ice of any particular man would be "contrary to the public interest.'' This was a fairly wido definition, although it might be necessary to more specifically define what "public interest' - meant. The exemption of ministers, magistrates, schoolmasters, etc., would obviously be considered b< tho Board from the point of view of ' public; interest.'-' -Mr lsitt: Won't that cause more unrest than if these classes were exempted from the start? Mr Allen: The difficulty is that oncc i you start exempting classes you can I never sler*. The British. Government made that mistake, they had, in the Jonc; run, to rccast the measure* _ Tuo Hon. A. M. Myers said he would like to place on record the position in rcgai d to exemptions, since there was ( an impression among some people that a large number of unnecessary exemptions had been made during tho last nx mouths. Each individual appeal had been considered on its merits, and as a result only 80 exemptions had been mado apart from G'i marino officers who wero essential to transport work. The exemptions were as follow : — Dairying companies, four: freezing works, one: dairying and freezing works machinery engineers, lire; transport workers, eight; cable operators, fifteen: wireless operators eight, coal-miners ten, medical students one. dentist one, bootmakers five, woollen workers seven, canned goods workers three-, hardware workers two. miscellaneous ten. These figures should disabuse tho minds of thoso who thought that favouritism was being shown. No farmers had received exemptions. A few applications from farm workers had been received, but had been deferred at nresent. Dr. Newman said that if these appeals for farmers went on much longer, and tho Minister were influenced, the result Duld bo that conscription would affect o.ily the towns, and ho as a town member protested against that. If every clask demanded iexemption, they would get no men at all. Personally he did not sec why clergymen of fighting age should not go under the Bill.

At 10.55 Mr Payne withdrew his amendment.

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Mr Isitt raised the puestion of exemption being given to those Quakers who conscientiously objected to military service, but were prepared to do other work to help the country during tho war. Ho asked the Minister to incorporate in tho Bill exemption for Quakers.

, Mr Alien submitted a new sub-clausc for _ the Committee's consideration, making it a ground for appeal "that he objects in good faith to military service on the ground that such service is contrary to his religious belief." This would bo followed up by a provision that such an appellant shall offer himself to the civil or military authorities for such non-combatant service as may bo required. The difficulty about tho Quakers, said Mr Allen, \vn 5 that thcy_ would not accept noil-combatant service in the Expeditionary Force, but this proposal provided for their services being accepted in a civil capacity and outside the Expeditionairy Force altogether. Personally ho objected to the extension; but was content to leave it to the Committee. Mr Isitt: Won't you give the conscientious objectors non-combatant sorvice? 'If Allen: No, I do not see my way to include ihem here. You can test religious Beliefs, but you cannot test conscicntious beliefs. Mr Statham pointed out that many other bodies would have to bo considered. It would be open to any man to come along and say that lie had deep religious convictions which would not allow him to fight. This would destroy the work of tlio Appeal Boards altogether. He was in favour of the principle for which the member for Cliristchurch North contended, but the Minister's clause was too dangerous for tho Comniitlee to accept. Tho amendment was rejected by 29 votes to 20, tho division list being as follows:— Against tho amendment (29): — Anderson jycrs Anstey Newman, A. K. Craigio Newman, E. Field. W. H. Noswortliy Fletcher Pomaro Fraser Rhodes, R. H. Han-is Rhodes, T. W. Herd man Russell Herries Scott Hornsby Smith. Hunter Stewart, W. Hudson Sykes Mac Donald Vciteh McNnb Young Mandcr For tho Amendment (30). Allen Maseey Dickson, J. M. Okey FII Payne Field, T. A. H. Poland Guthrie Poole Hanan Talbot Hindmarsh Webb Isitt "Wilkinson Jen limp's Witty McCombs Wright Mr Wilkinson moved, that where two or more brothers have joined the forces, the remaining brothers shall bo deemed to bo a member of t the sccond diviSl< The Minister said he could not accent this, but was prepared to accept tho amendment proposed by the member for Tanraarunui. This provided that it should be sufficient evidence of undue hardship that the appellant was the sole son of Ins ■Dfircnts, one or more of his brothers had served in connexion with tho _ war and had l<x=+ his life in that service. This new sub-clau«e was added on the voices and clause 1/ passed. Mr Wilkinson moved on clause iJ that tho members of the Appeal Board bo increased from three to five, three to be a ouorum. The Minister said lie conld not accept the amendment. It- might be necessary to have several of these boards, and it might not always be easy to get five men who were suitable. It was not intended to put any Civil servants, except magistrates, on the boards, and no military men. The amendment was rejected by 31 votes to 13. To Mr Hindmarsh tho Minister said sitting? of the Board would generally be public, but special cases might not bo heard openly. Mr Hindmarsh urged that a Supreme Court judge should be appointed to the Board, but tho Minister said thero were not enough available. In reply to Mr El. Mr Alien said that if there were any level-headed Labour men available, he would be glad to see them on tho Board-

Clauses 18 and 19 were adopted. The machinery clauses 20 to 26 were agreed to.

On Clause 27 the Minister moved to permit the Commandant to call up for service an appellant ■whose appeal f° r exemption has been granted on the ground of his being associated with a particular industry, if he subsequently leaves that industry. Mr Hindmarsh asked that he should have a further right of appeal on other grounds. The Minister agreed to this. The clausc was passed. After Clause 2S had been agreed to. the Prime Minister moved to report progress, and the Houso rose at 1-30 a.m.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS

THE EMPLOYERS' APPEAL

(SPECIAL TO "lIIE TRESS.") WELLINGTON, June 8. Consideration of tho Military Scrvice Bill in committee wa s renewed to-day at 2.40 p.m.

The right of employers to appeal on behalf of a particular employee as given in clauso 29 occasioncd much discussion.

The Hon. James Allen proposed an amendment, which was agreed to, withdrawing tho employers' right to appeal "with or without" tho consent of the employee, and establishing that notices of any such appeal by an employer should be given to the employee. This concession did not satisfy tho Labour group, who., according to Mr .McCombs, objected to the empiover having any "leudal rights." Mr McCombs accordingly moved an amendment stipulating that such appeals by employers must oua' bo m&do "with the consent and knowledge' 1 of tho empic ~se. 'lne Minister pointed out tho untold difficulty this would create in the caso of the Railway Department, if the General Manager had to secure the concent of every man before lodging an appeal on his behalf. LMx McCombs protested against an employer having any right to appeal at all, but Mr Veitch pointed out that the wholo purport ol : the clauso was to protect tho country from losing tho services in any particular industries of men whose expert services were vitai. It was not a matter of class distinction but one of common-sens© organisation. On a division, Mr Mc-Combs's amendment was lost hv 49 votes to 6. Mr Witty followed with an amendment to provide that an employer, who is a parent of the man, shail not have a right of appeal. He know parents who bad actually bought land in order to protect their sons from tho obligation to serve. The proposal was agreed to on the voices, and the clause, c- amended, adopted. Good progress was made for a spell, clauses 30, 31, and 32 bein<j agreed to. Clause 33, containing special provisions for the calling up of "families of sons who have not volunteered, without recourse to tho ballot, was not debated at length. LOSS OF CIVIL RIGHTS. There was some discussion on clauso 36, defining some indictable offences under the Act punishable by imprisonment with bard labour for any terax not exceeding five years. Mr Webb suggested that the term be reduced to two years. Mr Wilkinson moved to ndcl a new sub-clauso providing that any offender convicted under this clauso should also after tho expiry of any term of imprisonment bo ineligible to bo elected as a member of Parliament or any local public body, or to vote at any such election.

Mr Hindmarsh opposed -this. Tho penalty was so heavy that it would induce juries not to convict. He thought, tho judge ought to have power to limit the duration of any such penalty. Mr Wilford and the Minister supported the idea, and Mr Wilkinson altered his amendment to give tbe judge ■discretion as to the length of the period during which tho person convicted shall suffer deprivation of civil rights. Mr Veitch said he would oppose any clause to deprive a man of" his civil rights for any reason whatever. Mr Webb opposed tho amendment as reactionary. It was opposed also by Messrs AleCombs and McCallum and Dr. Thaeker. In answering criticisms. Mr Wilkinson said that lie did not wish to punish any one unduly, but ho thought they should establish, tho principle that a man who would not fisht for his country should havo no part in its government.

Mr Isitt indignantly prophesied' that such a penalty as was proposed would rouse so much indignation as would imperil the Bill. Mr Wilford pointed out that the Minister had promised to accept ail amendment which would enable tho judge to apply tho First Offenders' Act to such enses. Oil - a division the amendment was defeated by 33 votes to 23. Mr McCombs urged that tho maximum penalty of fivo years bo reduced to six months' imprisonment—tho penalty- in the English Act. Mr Allen consented to reduce tho penalty from fivo years to three years, and this amendment was made, the clause being agreed to on the voices. THE EMPLOYERS' CASE. ' The next-clause, constituting it an offence punishable by a fino of £100 for any employer to employ a man who was not enrolled, was opposed by Mr McCombs and other Labour members, who urged that the effect of it would bo to punish with starvation any offender under tho Act, as ho would not bo able to get employment. Mr Allen said tho object of tho .clause was to onforco enrolment. Any man could escape punishment by getting enrolled, and then ho would bo under no obligation to starve.

Mr McCombs offered the amusing suggestion that a clause should bo inserted for employees to seo that employers did not shirk. Ho alleged that members could not get it out of their minds that tho employee was a chattel of the employer. (No, no.) The clauso was agreed to.

A division was called on the clause ranking it an offence to employ deserters, but tho clar.sc was retained by 19 votes to 12. POWERS OF THE POLICE. Mr Wilford raised objection to clause 41, giving the polico power to question reservists. He took special exception to that portion of tho clauso giving a constable power to arrest without warrant "any man reasonably Buspected" of answering questions "in a false, misleading, or imperfect manner."

Mr Herdman admittted that tho clause was drastic, but it was intended to reach shirkers who would, by every possible means, hide from and deceive the authorities. He contended that it was not unreasonable for a constable to have the right of arrest. It was safe to have in a War Bill of limited duration provisions that would not he safo in general legislation. Mr Wilford said he would offer no further objection if the word "imperfect" were debited. He refused to accept the judgment of a policeman as to whether an answer was imperfect or otherwise.

The Minister agreed to delete this word, and Mr Wilford withdrew his opposition. After further criticism of tho clause had been made,

Mr Russell said it was hoped to provido each man on enrolment with a card which would bo a of enrolment, to be shown to any policeman. If it could not be shown, the policeman could act. The Government .Statistician had informed him that in his opinion not more than 3000 men

had refrained from registering under the National Register, which did not have~thc compulsory nature of the present measure. He therefore thought that those who did not register would bo a negligible quantity, but there should be power to catch those who did not comply. Mr Hindmar.sh declaimed against the danger of entrusting such, extensive powers to "a -vindictive, rash, and officious policeman " Where addresses were known no arrest should be, made.

The clause a 1" amended was adopted by 4S votes to S. Clause 42. rendering ir obligatory upon all possessed of information of value to the Government Statistician m relation to any person to give it to a constable or Defence ofiicer acting with tho authority of the Commandant, was adopted, although Mr Payne christened it the ' pimp"' clause. TO PREVENT SHIRKING. Clause 47, the last in the original draft of the Bill, was reached at 11.6 p.m. It provides for the stoppage by proclamation on the part of the Governor of voluntary enlistment in any district at any time. In answer to Mr McCombs, tho Minister said tho intent of the clause was that if it were found that men in Division I. : n any district were deliberately shirking because Division 11. men were enlisting, then voluntary enlistment should be stopped and Division I. cleared up by compulsion. Mr McCombs held that- the clause was designed to help the Government to secure "cheap soldiers" cvpii when volunteers (though they might be married) were offering in ample supply. An amendment bv Mr Wilford limiting tho stoppage of voluntary enlistment to reservists over 21 years of age (so that men then becoming 20 should still have an opportunity of volunteering) v.-.-is accepted by the Minister and adopted.

Messrs I'aytio and McCombs showed a disposition to combat the clausc. and freely bandied the cry of "cheap soldiers, 1 ' which called forth from Mr Ell a stinging rebuke in repudiation. A vote upon the clausc was reached at 12.15 a.m. with tho usual result— affirmed by 45 votes to 4. NEW CLAUSES. Consideration of various new clauses was then entered upon. It was provided that the Government might, bv proclamation, extend the provisions of the Act with such modifications as vrero necessary, to provide for the compulsory calling up of Natives. This clause is complementary to the exemption of Natives from tho operation of tho Act generally. A new clause was inserted giving the Government power to make-regulations under the Act.

Mr IVlsjGa.ilurn's motion for the Act to remain in i'orco until -10 days after tho lirst meeting of Parliament following the conclusion of tho present war, and no longer, was lost. Mr Witty moved to make aliens of military ago in New Zealand liable to render civilian service. He said ho could not accept the clause, which, as it stood, would apply to Americans, Swedes, Swiss, 3>anes, and the subjects of other neutral countries. These could not be requisitioned for servico' of any kind. The proposed clause was rejected on ■iJio voict'i. Ou Mr Witty's proposal that every member of the Expeditionary Force should bo insured bv tho Government for £100. Mr Allen said such a proposal would cost the State _ £630,000 per year for every year of tho war. Tho propooal was ruled out of order. Mr Craigio proposed that the voluntary enlistment of married men with two or more children should not be permitted until Division 1 was exhausted, but the proposal was rejected. The Bill was then reported from Committee. THE THIRD HEADING. The Prime Minister said that special arrangements had been made for printing the revised Bill, and the third j-ead-ing'\vould-be taken next day. The House roso at 12.50 a.m.