THE ARMY AND LABOR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 24 April 1914, Page 5

THE ARMY AND LABOR.

MOTION BY KEIR HARDIE

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—TOPTBIOHT.

LONDON, April 23. In committee on the Army Annual Bill, Mr Keir Hardie moved a new clause making it unlawful to employ trooops in labor disturbances until the available police of the district have been requisitioned, and that no troops be employed except with the consent of three magistrates of the district. Mr Hardie urged that soldiers should be armed with batons.

Mr Asquith admitted the importance of the clause, but the duty of assisting the civil power when the public peace was, disturbed was imposed on soldiers as citizens. It was in the highest degree undesirable to question thp sanctity of immemorial right to use soldiers in disturbances leading to destruction and menace of life, and exceedingly unwise to suggest that soldiers sliould not b9 armed.

Several Conservatives deprecated the use of the modern rifle in suppressing riots.

The Chairman finally ruled Mr Keir Hardies amendment outside the scope of, the Bill.