MILITARY SERVICE BILL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3043, 2 April 1917, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE BILL

: BRITISH BILL IN COMMITTEE CLAIMS OF AGRICULTURE London, March' 30. The House of Commons in Committee discussed the Military Service Bill. The Government declined to exempt all agricultural workers, but Mr. Bonnr Law said that food production was at least as' important as (jetting soldiers. Agriculture would receive special consideration.' • " ■ . Several members strongly, denounced re-examining of discharged men, especi- ; ally those who : , had been' incapacitated on active service, . Mr. Reginald M'Kenna and Mr. WinI ston Churchill disputed the Government's figures as to the probable re- . suits of, re-examination. They consider- ' ed ,that_ the Government was oyeroptimisfeic. ' Mr. J. I. Macpherson (Under-Secre-tary to 'the War Office), promised complete estimates.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ ! AN URGENT APPEAL THE "DEADLY PERU" OF. THE .MOMENT. (R«c. April 1, 5.5 p.m.) • London, March 31. Mr. Hayes Fisher, M.P. (Unionist), speaking at Hull, said that it was no exaggeration to. say . that Britain was in deadly peril at the present, moment. There must' be national service for everybody. We did not mean, to stand 1 more than three years of • war. A ' united knook-out' must bo delivered to the enemy during 1917. "We're beginning to do it. It will he necessary to have .300,000 moro men for, shipbuilding, munitions, transport, and agriculture, apart from the women.' — , Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' RE-ENLISTMENT GF' RECOVERED WOUNDED. •> 'AGITATION ON THEIR BEHALF. . (Rec. April 1, 5.5 p.m.) ; Landon, March 31. Thero is considerable feeling amongst the public against back to the fighting line men. with silver badges who have been discharged from the army on a<fomwt' of wounds.. Many ; oonsider that the age should be raised before recovered wounded men are reenlisted. Mr. Maopbereon (Under-Secretary to the War Office), speaking in the House of' Commons, stated that half a million were disoharged during the first eighteen months of war. It was estimated that at least sixty thousand were now fit'for service, ! ; ' ' Mr.' Pyecoft, Sir Charles Seely, Mr. and Mr. Churchill are' among the members of the House of Commons who are actively agitating in tho mat-ter.—Aus.-N.Z. Cabla Assn.