SOLDIERS AND CITIZENS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 April 1914, Page 5

SOLDIERS AND CITIZENS

BRITISH ARMY BILL. KT Tl'.LFfJll.ii'H-- VKR PBKB9 ASSOCJATION LONDON, April 23. In committee on the Army Annual. Bill Mr. Keir Hardie moved a new clause making it unlawful to employ troops in labour disturbances until the available police in the district had been requisitioned, no troops to be employed without the consent of -three magistrates in the district. He urged that soldiers should be armed with batons Mr. Asquith admitted the importance of the clause, but the. c'uty of assisting the civil power when p'lbhc peace was disturbed was imposed r.pon the soldiers as citizens. It was in the highest degree undesirable to question the sanctity of the immemorial use of soldiers when there were disturbances leading to destruction of property and a menace to life. It whs exceedingly unwise to suggest that soldiers should not by armed.

Several Conservatives deprecated the use of modern rifles in suppressing riots. The Chairman finally ruled Mr.' Bardie's amendment outside the scope of the LONDON, April 23.—Mr. Asquith promised Mr. Ramsay MacDonald a committee to enquire into the use of troops in connection with trade disputes and other civil disturbances.