EXPEDITIONARY FORCES BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10121, 31 October 1917, Page 3

EXPEDITIONARY FORCES BILL.

Ki.atfgQvw — 1 f . 1 ■ all conferences on the exemption CLAUSE FAIL. THIS AH’AKHitH DROPPED. {FBom Otm Pasliamentaby Hepobteb.) ■ WELLINGTON, Oei. 30. The business of Parliament'was Feld up to-day by the .dispute between the two Chambers regarding the.‘exemption clause of the Expeditionary' Forces' Bill. Twouddiliontil eonieronces of rntmagers were- held, but each failed to, reach an, agreement. It appears that any sort of ’compromise was as far away as at tho first conference, the Council’s managers insisting upon the principle. of no special exemptions at all. After the of the I bird conference, Air Massey said the Government did uni propose to ask for another conference, and the House was adjourned until the evening, in order 'that Ministers might consider the position.. Sir .Joseph Ward took ab. opportunity to deny the rtnhours of dissensions in the: Cabinet pit He subject of tlicscxonipfions.: He said Ministers, had -dismissed llte sijbjec't without friction or quarrelling, and wbre animated only by a desire to reach a conclusfoii, Mr Massey’s announcement, when the House me! in the evening, that the Bill would bo dropped, did .hot surprise anybody. Tito dropping of I lie measure, was, in clfect, it victory, for the Council, since it leaves existing .few. as it is,_ without any exemptions. At The same Time, it averts, trouble in the House and possibly in the Ministry. The loss of the Expeditionary Forces; Bill is embarrassing to the Defence Department, though none of the clauses really vitally affect .-its procedure. The more important clauses provide tor the.constitution of Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board, strengthen the law with; regard to the enrolment of reservists, volidale they proceedings ohchrtain courts-martial, and cajicol tiic civil rights for ten years of persons convicted for desertion from the Expeditionary Force, or of disobedience to military order’s. 5