COMPULSORY SERVICE BILL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17179, 27 May 1916, Page 8

COMPULSORY SERVICE BILL.

Thehb are some sections in the Military Service Bill that will bear a good deal of ecrutiny, and it is the duty of members of Parliament to see that such scrutiny is not neglected when the Bill comes before them for discussion. AVe anticipate that not a great deal of unfriendly comment will be forthcoming. The country is with the Government, heartily and almost unanimously, in the determination to keep the main body up to full jstrength and even to increase that body if the occasion should arise. Many people certainly ! dislike compulsion, and a fow maintain hostility towards it ■without due regard I to the grave peril that threatens New

Zaaland in common with the Empire. For ourselves, wo take an attitude that appeals to us as the only possiblo onb consistent with the conditions that exist. Wishing most earnestly to seo New Zealand's part in tho war taken wholly by volunteers, and hoping foi that to come about, wo feel that the Government is bound to secure full authority to meet the emergency if voluntary enlistment should fall short of requirements. In principle, the Military Service Bill is but a logical extension of tho existing law requiring every able-bodied man to take up arms in tho event of an invasion of out islands. Tho duty to defend hearth and homo and country against an enemy is beyond dispute or argument, and in our view it is equally clear that tho peril to Now Zealand is not less real, nor loss terrible, because tho theatre of war happens to bo some thousands of miles distant. Unless tho Allies, crush Germany New Zealand will be a very ghastly placo to live in, and so wo maintain that every soldiei from the Dominion is fighting for tiii integrity of this country. That being so, the Government would be unfit foi office if it failed to' ensure the use of tho full strength of tho Dominion's manhood, if that should be nesded beforo this calamitous struggle is ended. The Military Sendee Bill may never come into operation, but it is a vitally necessary precaution in the interests of self-preservation. Any criticism* we may offer concerning the Bill, copies oi which aro now to hand, will therefore be made without the slightest ill-feel-ing in regard to its guiding principle. Tho Bill has been carefully drafted, evidently with a view to making its operation, if and when it shall como into force, as equitable as possible, and also, it ' appears, with a view to its harmonising with the systsm of voluntary enlistmont. We are rather concerned, however, about tho section which provides for publication in the " Gazette" of tho names of men who may be eonscribed by ballot. In one sense, no stigma should attach to the men upon whom the ballot falls, since those who escape are equally liable to be called and gazetted, bub that, does not dispose of the matter. • Whero a mixed draft of reinforcements may be sent, possibly consisting mainly of volunteers, it is "not difficult to apprehend somo trouble arising through the publication of the names of tho conscript minority. It is not clear why tho Government wishes to insert the uamo in the "Gazette," conies of which, by the way, are suro to find their way to the volunteer army at the front. The Bill makes tho appsarauco of names in the "Gazotto" a-sufficient proof that the men so named aro conscribed and thoy forthwith bocomo subject to the commands of tho military. Thero seems to be even no obligation on tho authorities to notify the citizen that he is called to the service by ballot. Probably that is an omission, for it can hardly be anticipated that on the passing of tho Bill all the men in New Zealand of military age will suddenly become subscribers to the "Gazette." . But wo think it is fair to ask whether the gazetting of names is really necessary, and if not, whether it is desirable. If the Statistician in Wellington draws from tho ballot-box tho name of a man living at tho Bluff, we will say, an official telegram could surely-bo sent at onco conveying the information, and all the necessary records could be kept without the use of the " Gazette." This is a matter upon which we aro not at all disposed to bo dogmatic, but wo think it of sufficient importance to ventilate. In the case of a mixed body of soldiers there aro obvious objections to.facilities for distinguishing tho conscript from the- volunteer.