THE GREAT ISSUE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17078, 29 January 1916, Page 9

THE GREAT ISSUE.

COMPULSION BILL. PASSED BY THE LORDS. I ADVICE TO LABOUR. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, January 27. The Military Service Bill has been read a third time in the House of Lords. Lord Denman said Labour had nothing to fear from the Bill. It was likely that Labour after the war would play' a still greater part in political affairs. If any considerable section of the Labourites failed to realise that they were Englishmen first and trades unionists second, and hampered the administration of the Act. their advent to power was bound to be greatly delayed. labour conference. PROTESTS AGAINST COMPULSION. « FULL OF DANGER TO LIBERTY.” LONDON, January 27. The Labour Conference, by 1,796,000 votes to 219,000, adopted the Leicester Labour Party’s resolution emphatically protesting against conscription in any form, as contrary to the spirit of Democracy, and full of danger to the liberties of the people. MR HENDERSON’S SPEECH. THE RESPONSE TO RECRUITING. COMPULSION BILL MAY BE DEAD LETTER. (Received January 29, 1.35 a.m.) LONDON. January 27. At tha Labour Conference Mr,

Thorne, during a stormy mooting, repudiated Mr Philip Snowden’s allegation that the Parliamentary Labour Party had become the blind tool of the Government. Mr Henderson said that ho intended to remain silent but for the challedge by Mr Bellamy that a man connected with the party had either to obey its; decision or get out. If that was the conference’s decision it was a ous doctrine. Since December 15 tot the ond of last week 113,987 single men. had enlisted. If that rate was continued for six weeks it would probably realise the hope that the Military Service Act would be rendered a dead lot-, tor. An amendment was being accepted in the Bill which ought to satisfy every impartial mind that the last shred of fear of industrial compulsion had vanished.