NOT TO BE OPPOSED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 May 1939, Page 5

NOT TO BE OPPOSED

; RESERVES AUXILIARY FORCES BILL LABOUR PARTY ANNOUNCEMENT SECOND READING DEBATE [British Official WireleM] (Received 10th May, 12.20 p.m.) RUGBY. 9th May Mr L. Hore-Belisha. Secretary of ! State for War, moved the second readI ing in the House of Commons of the j Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Bill, j which deals with the procedure for the i embodiment or mobilisation of reservea I and auxiliary forces and provides, an the Minister claimed, methods of instituting a state of preparation more appropriate to modern emergencies than existing in the elaborate provisions which date back over fifty years. He asserted that most armies of Europe now kept varying stages of mobilisation. As a result of the provisions of the Bill, territorial army and anti-air-craft units would be at war stations all this summer, while a certain proportion of the auxiliary air force would be in training, and the Admiralty would increase the readiness of the fleet reserve, including anti-submarine and mine sweeping units. The Minister's claim that no exception was taken to the proposals of the Bill in any part of the House, and that they were regarded by Opposition members and Government supporters alike as doing no more than modernising and making more effective a part oi the country's defence machinery, was fully substantiated when the Opposition spokesman, Mr Lawson, after detailing the points upon which the Labour Party would wish to see amendments, announced that the party would not oppose the passage of the Bill. Mr Hore-Belisha added that the Bill assumes that the situation which has arisen may continue for three years, curing which time the Government should be empowered to authorise calling up reserves without recourse to more elaborate procedure. Reserves Ivtherto were not called up for the annual twelve days’ training to which they are liable, and they would be required to serve three months, enabling the regular army to train at war strength, preparing it to take the field at short notice. The individual auxiliary army and anti-aircraft units would not ' serve over one month; and 3800 fleet re- : servists and 1500 navy pensioners would serve three months in two batches. The Bill provides for reinstatement cf those called up in employment after service. Mr Hore-Belisha concluded that it was possible by viewing together the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Bill and the Military Training Bill to discern the outline of the system giving Britain more secure protection in the immediate future. The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Bill was read a second time without division. PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL Mr G. le M. Mandcr (Lib.) introducled the Conscription of Wealth (Pre- ; paratory Provisions) Bill, providing : machinery enabling the conscription for j six months of the wealth of surtax payers aged sixty. It provides also in I wartime that every surtax payer not engaged in active service shall place j his resoruccs above the surtax level at i the State’s disposal. The Bill was formally read a first j time. A private member cannot introduce a Tax Bill. If it is desired to put the machinery | provided in Mr Mander’s Bill in motion ! a further Government-backed Bill will j be necessary. * TO BE PASSED BEFORE j WHITSUNTIDE RECESS FULL AND FAIR DISCUSSION PROMISED (British Official Wireless] (Received 10th May. 10.25 a.m.) RUGBY. 9th May. The Government has decided, in orI der to ensure the passage of the Com- | pulsory Training Bill and the reserve | and Auxiliary Forces Bill into law beI fore the Whitsuntide recess, that it must ask the House of Commons to pass a time-table motion for the committee and remaining stages of both Bills. Four days will be allotted for the committee stage of the Military Training Bill —Thursday and Friday of this week and Monday and Tuesday of next week —and the report stage and third read- ' ing will be taken to-morrow week. This will involve the government taking private members’ time on Friday, but the Prime Minister, in making the announcement expressed the view that it would permit a full and fair discussion of the measure, the far-reaching importance of which is admitted on both sides of the House.