PARLIAMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 7 June 1916, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

fiY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Jane 6. Tim afternoon the House proceeded with tae discussion in committee of the Military eSrvice Bill. Mr J. McComhs iLytteito«) argued that it was d<*slraAne to have tne Bill considered by a special -eojrsmiittee J

wv_ ,o^ c 2 > a Pr°P°sal by Mr G, Urtey (Riccsnacm) to-substitute "registered medical practitioner" for "perS°* was lost by 44 votes to 6. Mr Witty, on behalf of Mr R. McLallum (\\ qjrau) maved to amend titer dettnuoa. of military age, by substitute mg twenty-one and fifty-five- for twenty «k and forty-six. y Speaking, to the amendment, Hon. Jas Allen said that the agfa» in th& -5iH bad been fixed after much careful consideration. It was not deswable t<y limit recruiting of young, men by raising tne age, as it was found- tfcsst men •ver forty-five were not so amessble t» draining as young men of twenty. beveral members contended' that bova under twenty-oner should! not be compelled to enlist, while others advieed that the ages should be left as defimed by the Bill.

Mr H. G. Ell (Christohurch South) strongly resented a remark that had been made to the effect thas Parliament was dasirous of obtaining single recruits in ■ preference to married ones, because it would cost less. He held that all classes had done their duty and deprecated the introduction 'of pitrtv feeling in this matter. Mr P. C. Webb (Grey)-, at 8 o'clock, moved to report progress, on the ground that the public had not Bad x'] meX? fully consider the contents of the Bill.

c !L J*- Ward ob Jected to the forms of the House being used' to delay the passing cf a measure that was demanded by a large majority in the country, and which was necessary to provide the Motherland and her Allies with every ounce of help that couid be given. Those who opposed the Bill should take a division on the clause and accept the decision given.

Mr \ eitch (Wanganui) suggested that thoc-e fighting against the Bill should realise that they were in a small minority, and devote their best efforts to making the Bill as useful as possible. He himself reserved the right to rote against the financial proposals if he deeded them unsatisfactory-. The discussion was continued by Messrs McCombs, Payne, Webb Walker, and Hindmarsh. Mr Payne warned the House tha*. there was era-re fear of engendering industrial trottMe ii.nless time was given for further consideration.

At 9.30, the amendment was lost, on. division, by 50 to 5. Referring to the military age question, Hon. Jas. Allen pointed out that the prooosed amendment would cut out some 10,000 men who were under twenty-one, which would mean calling out the second division much sooner than would be necessary if the age was retained at twenty. It was also found that men made good soldiers at twenty. Besides, training occupied some months after enlistment.

At 10.30, Mr Massey n^ested against tbe obstruction and waste of time being shown. The divisions had shown the feeling of members, and he felt certain that the huge majority was in favor df compulsion. He asked members to think of the men who had died last week in the North Sea, and the others who were dying in the trenches every day in the great struggle. It was unseemly that this obstruction should go on, "and he urged members to do their part by. dealing with the business in an earnest manner.

At five minutes to eleven a division was taken on the amendment that the age he raised from twenty years te twenty-one, and this was rejected by 40 to 15.

Clause 2 was passed at 11.45 p.m. -Clause 4 was finally passed, and clauses 5 and 6 passed with unimportant amendments.

Pro_?re«s was reported and the House rose at 2.25.